feasr-  FIGHTING  PHIL. 
GEN. PHILIP  H.SHERIDAN 

HEADLEY 


/ 


RUSSELL  A.$LK«NS. 


FIGHTING  PHIL 


THE  LIFE  AND    MILITARY  CAREER 


PHILIP    HENRY    SHERIDAN 

GENERAL  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
BY    c., 

KEY.   pVc^nlcADLEY     \Ztf~W* 


AUTHOR     OF     LIVES     OF     GENERAL      GRANT,     GENERAL      SHERMAN, 

ADMIRAL     FARRAGUT,     GENERAL     MITCHEL,     JOHN     ERICSSON, 

EMPRESS     JOSEPHINE,      NAPOLEON     BONAPARTE,     MARY, 

QUEEN    OF    SCOTS,    LAFAYETTE,    WOMEN    OF    THE 

BIBLE,    THE     ISLAND    OF    FIRE. 


NEW  EDITION 


BOSTON  1889 
LEE  AND  SHEPARD  PUBLISHERS 

10  MILK  STREET  NEXT  "  THE  OLD  SOUTH  MEETING   HOUSE  " 

NEW  YORK  CHAS.  T.  DILLINGHAM 
718  AND  720  BROADWAY 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 

WM.  H.  APPLETON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 

COPYRIGHT,  1888, 
By   LEE   AND    SHEPARD. 


CHAMPION  ACCESSHO* 
•MClloflUBHAEY 

MAR  1 8. 1938 


TO 
FRANK    E.    NYE 

CADET  IN  THE  U.  S.  MILITABY  ACADEMY  AT  WEST  POINT 

THIS  RECORD  OF 

A  HERO  WHO  ROSE  FROM  HUMBLE   LIFE  AMONG  THE  PEOPLE 

AND  WON  THEIR  HIGHEST  APPLAUSE 

IS    INSCRIBED 

BY 

THE  AUTHOR 


PEEFACE. 


THE  biography  of  General  Sheridan  is  added  to 
the  "  Young  Folks'  Heroes  of  the  KebeUion,"  as 
a  fitting  conclusion  of  the  present  series;  both  on 
account  of  his  most  signal  services  in  the  closing 
scenes  of  the  rebellion,  and  because  he  represented 
so  well  the  cavalry  of  the  Union  array. 

The  North  was  ashamed  of  her  cavalry,  in  contrast 
with  that  of  the  South,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war ; 
but  before  its  close  was  proud  of  the  troopers  whom 
their  last  great  leader,  Sheridan,  covered  with  glory 
unsurpassed  in  the  history  of  any  conflict. 

Major-General  Sheridan  furnishes  a  fine  example 
of  success  achieved  by  personal  effort — unaided  genius 
reaching  the  highest  position  of  military  honor,  from 
the  most  humble  place  in  early  life.  The  youth  of 
the  country  will  become  familiar  with  his  history,  not 


8  PREFACE. 

alone  for  these  reasons,  but  with  Generals  Grant, 
Sherman,  and  Thomas,  he  makes  the  grand  quartette 
of  preeminent  generals  who  finished  the  rebellion. 

An  extended  notice  of  the  course  of  study  and  dis- 
cipline in  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  is 
given,  because  so  little  is  known  by  the  people  gen- 
erally of  the  national  school,  which  has  trained,  and 
will  continue  to  train,  the  best  generals  of  the  land. 

A  brief  history  of  the  cavalry  is  added,  the  most 
romantic  department  of  the  service,  and  one  which 
has  won  the  admiration  of  the  world  under  such 
leaders  as  Sheridan,  Buford,  Stoneman,  Grierson, 
and  Kilpatrick. 

May  the  young  reader  be  inspired  by  the  gallant 
deeds  of  our  heroes  of  the  civil  war,  to  stand  by  the 
Stars  and  Stripes,  and  by  every  cause  which  blesses 
the  country,  and  honors  Him  who  has  carried  us  vic- 
toriously through  the  great,  and,  we  may  hope,  the 
last  terrible  trial  of  the  loyalty  of  the  people  and  the 
strength  of  the  Republic  1 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  L 

PAOl 

The  Sheridans—The  childhood  of  "  Phil  "—Western  Scenes-Early  fond- 
ness for  the  Horse— The  Gilpin  Eide— Drives  a  Cart— Goes  to  West 
Point— Life  there— Graduates  Second  Lieutenant— Classmates-Joins 
his  Regiment,  . 18 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  Camanches  and  Apaches— The  Border  Warfare— A  Surprise  and  Bat- 
tle—Heroic Conduct— Unpleasant  Collision  with  his  Commander- 
Seeks  a  new  Field  of  Service— Ordered  to  Oregon— Eepairs  to  New 
York  to  Sail— Assigned  to  command  Fort  Wood,  .  .  .  ,  4i 

CHAPTER  III. 

Lieutenant  Sheridan  sails  for  San  Francisco— Immediately  joins  an  Expe- 
dition into  the  Interior— He  goes  to  the  Tokima  Country— Adventures 
—Battle  at  the  Cascades .  51 

CHAPTER  IV. 

A  new  Command— Creates  a  Military  Post—At  Yokima  Bay— General 
Scott's  Commendation— The  Wilderness  Warfare— Its  Discipline— The 
Rebellion— Sheridan  made  Captain— Eepairs  to  St.  Louis— New  Du- 
ties—Quartermaster—A Staff  Officer's  estimate  of  Him— The  Battle 


10  CONTENTS. 

PAQB 

of  Pea  Ridge— Captain  Sheridan  and  General  Curtis  disagree— The 
reason— The  result,  .  .       .  58 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Captain  in  a  new  Enterprise  for  the  Army— Quartermaster  again 
at  Corinth— Enters  the  Cavalry  Service— The  Past  and  Present  of  the 
Cavalry  —Crossing  Rivers— The  War-horse,  ...  .  78 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Colonel'  Sheridan's  raiding  around  Corinth  with  Elliot's  Command— En- 
larged Responsibility— General  Grant's  Commendation— Created  Brig- 
adier-General—A Daring  Movement— Victory— Stone  River  .  .  .100 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  condition  of  the  National  Cause— General  Sheridan's  Movements— 
Raiding  and  Drilling— Other  Cavalry  Operations  at  this  time— Gen- 
erals Stoneman,  Buford,  and  Kilpatrick— The  great  Raid  on  Richmond 
—A  curious  Incident, 188 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Summer  Army  "Work— The  Advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
—Sheridan's  Position  — Liberty  Gap — On  to  Chattanooga— Chicka- 
mauga— The  Deadly  Conflict— The  Pause  in  the  Strife,  .  .  .  .146 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Change  of  Commanders — General  Sheridan's  Command  Enlarged — General 
Bragg-  Reenforced  and  Defiant— General  Grant  gets  ready  for  him— 
The  Battle— Sheridan,  ....  1TI 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Pursuit  of  the  Rebel  Army— Off  for  Knoxville— In  East  Tennes- 
see— A  Conference  of  Generals — Sheridan  at  Washington — Succeeds 
General  Pleasanton  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac— First  Duty  in  his 
now  Field, 191 


CONTENTS.  11 

CHAPTER  XI. 

PJLGB 

The  Alarm— The  Strategy  of  Sheridan— The  Victory— The  Work  of  De- 
struction—The Third  Eebel  Invasion  of  Maryland— A  new  Military 
Division— General  Sheridan  commands  it— He  is  on  the  track  of 
Early— The  Bebel  General  at  Berryville— The  Battle  of  Winchester 
opens,  .  ....  214 

CHAPTER  XIL 

The  Decisive  Moment  in  the  Battle— The  Victorious  Onset— Scenes  on 
the  Field— The  gallant  Chief  after  the  Triumph— Anecdotes  of  him— 
The  Dying  Soldier  after  the  Charge, 280 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  Prompt  Pursuit— A  Bold  Front— Skilful  Tactics— The  Attack  on  Early's 
Position— The  line  Breaks— The  Flight— The  spoils  of  Victory— Cavalry 
Movements— Destruction  of  Property— The  Enemy  on  the  Bear— Bat- 
tie  again,  and  Victory— Further  Devastation, 256 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Position  of  the  Armies— The  Plot— The  Battle  and  partial  success  of 
the  Enemy— The  Eeturn  of  the  Dauntless  Chief— The  Bally  and  the 
Victory, 270 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Stirring  Official  Eecord  of  the  Great  Battle— General  Custar  to  his 
Troops— The  National  Joy  and  Congratulations— Early's  Chagrin— The 
President's  Call  to  Grateful  Praise, 297 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Weeks  of  Skirmishing—General  Early's  Movements— Guerrillas- 
General  Sheridan's  Advance— A  Series  of  Successes— Another  Track  of 
Desolation, 807 


12  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVIL 

PAOB 

General  Sheridan's  Story  of  the  Great  Campaign— His  Pen  as  unerring  as 
his  Battle-blade— The  Surrender  of  General  Lee— National  Joy,  .  .  815 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  Pursuit  of  Johnston — General  Sherman  Negotiates — The  President 
Slain— A  great  Transition  in  the  Public  Feeling— The  Government 
account  of  the  Assassination— The  surrender  of  Johnston,  .  .  .841 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Armies  Converge  toward  Washington— The  Unconquerable  Sheridan 
not  allowed  to  Best  and  enjoy  Eeviews— Is  Serenaded— Departs  for 
Texas— The  Grand  Eeview— New  Military  Department— General  Sher- 
idan's Command, 844 

CHAPTER  XX. 

General  Sheridan  a  Catholic— His  Qualities  as  a  Commander— Personal 
Presence — "  Sheridan's  Bide  " — The  Poem  and  its  History  .  .  .  .349 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

General  Sheridan's  Career  in  Peace  — Travels  Abroad  — Energy  at  Chicago  — 
Restoring  Political  Quiet  in  Louisiana — AsLieutenant-General — Promoted 
to  the  Generalship  of  the  Army  —  Last  Illness  —  Voyage  to  Nonquitt — 
Death —Burial— Tributes  to  His  Memory 359 


CHAPTER  I. 

Th«  Bheridans— The  Childhood  of  "Phil  "—Western  Scenes— Early  fondness  for 
the  Horse— The  Gilpin  Bide— Drives  a  Cart— Goes  to  West  Point— Life 
there— Graduates  Second  Lieutenant— Classmates— Joins  his  Regiment 

N  the  tide  of  emigration  that  came  to  the  shores  of 
the  Republic  after  the  last  war  with  England,  were 
the  ancestors  of  our  gallant  general.  The  name, 
Sheridan,  has  been  familiar  for  a  century  to  the 
dramatic  circles  of  the  world.  Whether  the  dis- 
tinguished father  and  son,  Thomas  and  Richard,  were  of 
the  same  stock,  is  not  known,  but  they  all  did  call  Ireland 
their  native  land.  Mr.  Sheridan  landed  in  Boston,  and 
while  in  the  Bay  State  his  illustrious  son  was  born  in 
1831.  Soon  after  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled  on 
the  great  thoroughfare  of  western  travel  running  through 
Perry  County,  formed  about  a  dozen  years  before  from 
portions  of  Washington,  Muskingum,  and  Fairfield  Coun- 
ties, and  named  after  Commodore  Oliver  H.  Perry. 
Along  this  grand  highway  settlements  were  springing  up, 
whose  inhabitants  were  mainly  Catholics.  Their  sane- 


14:  LIFE  OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

tuary  of  St.  Joseph  at  Somerset,  the  shire-town,  is- the 
oldest  house  of  public  worship  in  the  State.  For  several 
years,  or  until  steam  navigation  and  cars  improved  the 
means  of  travelling,  "  a  perpetual  stream  of  emigrants 
rolled  westward  along  its  course,  giving  constant  occupa- 
tion to  hundreds  of  tavern-keepers,  seated  at  short  dis- 
tances on  its  borders,  and  consuming  all  the  spare  grain 
for  several  miles  north  and  south  of  its  line.  Groups  of 
merchants  on  horseback,  with  led  horses,  laden  with 
Spanish  dollars,  travelled  by  easy  stages  every  spring 
and  autumn  along  its  route,  congregated  in  parties  of  ten 
or  twenty  individuals  for  mutual  protection,  and  armed 
with  dirks,  pocket  pistols,  and  pistols  in  holsters,  as  rob- 
beries sometimes  took  place  in  the  more  wilderness  parts 
of  the  roads.  The  goods,  when  purchased,  were  wag- 
oned to  Pittsburg,  and  sent  in  large  flatboats  or  keel- 
boats  to  their  destination  below,  while  the  merchant  re- 
turned on  horseback  to  his  home,  occupying  eight  or  ten 
weeks  in  the  whole  tour." 

Little  "  Phil"  showed  early  a  fondness  for  that  noblest 
of  animals,  the  horse.  At  five  years  of  age  he  was  play- 
ing near  his  home,  when  some  lads  came  along  and 
amused  themselves  with  the  wide-awake  boy.  A  horse 
was  feeding  quietly  in  an  adjacent  lot. 

"  Phil,  would  you  like  a  ride  ?"  they  said  to  him. 

"  Yes,  give  me  one." 

In  a  few  moments  the  boy  was  on  the  animal's  back. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL   SHEBIDAN.  15 

The  sudden  anl  unceremonious  mounting  of  the  young 
rider  started  the  steed,  and  away  he  ran. 

"Whoa!  whoa!"  sang  out  the  mischievous  lads, 
but  in  vain.  Over  the  fence  he  sprang,  and  once  on  the 
highway  it  was  a  Gilpin  ride.  "  Phil"  clung  to  the 
mane,  while  the  sobered  authors  of  the  race  turned  pale 
with  the  apprehension  of  a  tragical  end  to  it,  expecting  to 
see  him  dashed  to  the  earth  and  killed.  But  out  of  sight 
horse  and  rider  vanished,  miles  soon  lay  between  the  two 
parties,  when  the  horse  suddenly  turned  into  the  shed  of 
a  tavern  where  its  owner  had  frequently  stopped  in  hia 
travel.  Men  came  out,  and  recognizing  the  horse,  ques- 
tioned the  boy.  One  of  the  curious  company,  after  secur- 
ing the  foaming  animal,  without  saddle  or  bridle,  and 
the  unterrified  "  Phil,"  inquired : 

"  Who  learned  you  to  ride  ?  " 

"  Nobody,"  answered  the  boy. 

"  Did  no  one  teach  you  how  to  sit  on  a  horse  ?  "  ask- 
ed another. 

"  Oh,  yes !  Bill  Seymour  told  me  to  hold  on  with  my 
knees,  and  I  did." 

"  Wasn't  you  frightened  ?  " 

"  Nary  a  bit ;  I  wanted  to  go  on  further,  but  the 
horse  wouldn't  go." 

"  Ain't  you  sore,  boy  ?  "    • 

"  Kinder,  but  I'll  be  better  to-morrow,  and  then  I'll 
ride  back  home.*' 


16  LITE  OF   GENERAL   BHEBIDAN. 

u  That  boy,"  said  the  questioner,  "  has  pluck  enough 
to  make  an  Indian  hunter." 

The  following  morning  "Phil"  was  lame  and  sore, 
still  he  wanted  to  go  home.  The  surprised  and  interested 
people  kept  the  little  fellow  to  nurse  him  before  he  under- 
took the  return  trip.  Meanwhile,  the  owner  of  the  horse 
on  his  own  account,  and  in  behalf  of  the  family,  made  his 
appearance.  He  had  learned  along  the  way  the  course 
Of  the  young  Gilpin.  He  expressed  astonishment  that  he 
was  not  thrown,  as  the  horse  was  vicious,  and  had  un- 
saddled excellent  horsemen.  This  was  "Phil's"  first 
cavalry  experience,  but  neither  a  charge  nor  a  raid. 

Like  Grant,  Mitchell,  and  others,  who  have  worked 
their  way  up  to  high  positions  in  public  life,  "  Phil "  soou 
began  to  earn  his  daily  bread  in  doing  errands  and  little 
"jobs."  When  he  was  old  enough  to  leave  home  he 
went  to  Zanesville,  in  Muskingum  County,  on  the  river 
of  that  name,  and  one  of  the  most  promising  towns  of 
the  State.  As  it  was  for  a  time  the  home  of  young 
Sheridan,  and  from  which  dates  his  entrance  upon  his 
military  career,  you  will  be  interested  in  a  brief  account 
of  its  origin,  and  life  around  it,  half  a  century  ago  : 

"In  May,  1796,  Congress  passed  a  law  authorizing 
Ebenezer  Zane  to  open  a  road  from  Wheeling,  in  Vir- 
ginia, to  Limestone,  now  Maysville,  Kentucky.  In  the 
following  year,  Mr.  Zane,  accompanied  by  his  brother, 
Jonathan  Zane,  and  his  sonrin-law,  John  Mclntire,  both 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   SHERIDAN.  17 

experienced  woodsmen,  proceeded  to  mark  out  the  new 
road,  which  was  afterwards  cut  out  by  the  two  latter. 
The  cutting  out,  however,  was  a  very  hasty  business,  in 
which  nothing  more  was  attempted  than  to  make  the 
road  passable  for  horsemen.  As  a  compensation  for 
opening  this  road,  Congress  granted  to  Ebenezer  Zane 
the  privilege  of  locating  military  warrants  upon  three 
sections  of  land,  not  to  exceed  one  mile  square  each  ;  the 
first  of  these  to  be  at  the  crossing  of  the  Muskingum,  the 
second  at  the  Hockhocking,  and  the  third  at  the  Sciota. 

"  One  of  the  conditions  annexed  to  the  grant  of  Mr. 
Zane,  was  that  he  should  keep  ferries  across  these  rivers 
during  the  pleasure  of  Congress.  Messrs.  Zane  and 
Mclntire  gave  the  Muskingum  ferry  for  five  years  to 
William  McCulloch  and  Henry  Crooks,  on  condition  that 
they  should  move  to  the  place  and  keep  the  ferry,  which 
they  did.  The  ferry  was  kept  about  where  the  upper 
bridge  is  situated,  and  the  ford  was  near  the  site  of  the 
present  dam.  The  ferry-boat  was  composed  of  two 
canoes,  with  a  stick  lashed  across.  The  first  flatboat 
used  for  the  ferry  was  one  in  which  Mr.  Mclntire  re- 
moved from  Wheeling,  in  1799.  Mr.  Zane  resided  at 
Wheeling.  The  first  mail  ever  carried  in  Ohio  was 
brought  from  Marietta  to  McCulloch's  cabin,  by  Daniel 
Convers,  in  1798,  where,  by  the  arrangement  of  the  post- 
master-general, it  met  a  mail  from  Wheeling  and  one 
from  Limestone.  McCulloch,  who  could  barely  read. 


18  LIFE   OF   GENEBAL   SHEEIDAN. 

was  authorized  to  assort  the  mails,  and  send  each  pacJ  ge 
in  its  proper  direction,  for  which  he  received  $30  per  in- 
num  ;  but  the  service  often  fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Convers, 
as  he  was  more  expert.  At  that  time  the  aforesaid  mail* 
met  here  weekly.  Four  years  after,  a  number  of  families 
having  settled  here,  a  regular  post-office  was  opened,  and 
Thomas  Dowden  appointed  postmaster,  who  kept  his 
office  in  a  wooden  building  near  the  river,  on  Front 
Street. 

"In  1799  Messrs.  Zane  and  Mclntire  laid  out  the 
town,  which  they  called  Westbourn,  a  name  which  it  con- 
tinued to  bear  until  a  post-office  was  established  by  the 
postmaster-general,  under  the  name  of  Zanesville,  and 
the  village  soon  took  the  same  name.  A  few  families 
from  the  Kanawha  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
soon  after  McCulloch  arrived,  and  the  settlement  received 
pretty  numerous  accessions  until  it  became  a  point  of  im- 
portance. It  contained  one  store  and  no  tavern.  The 
latter  inconvenience,  however,  was  remedied  by  Mr. 
Mclntire,  who,  for  public  accommodation  rather  than  for 
private  emolument,  opened  a  house  of  entertainment.  It 
is  due  to  Mr.  Mclntire  and  his  lady  to  say  that  their  ac- 
commodations, though  in  a  log-cabin,  were  such  as  to 
render  their  house  the  travellers'  home.  Prior  to  that 
time  there  were  several  grog-shops  where  travellers  might 
stop,  and  after  partaking  of  a  rude  supper,  they  could 
spread  their  blankets  and  bear-skins  on  the  floor,  and 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN,  19 

Bleep  with  their  feet  to  the  fire.  But  the  opening  of  Mr. 
Mclntire' s  house  introduced  the  luxury  of  comfortable 
beds,  and  although  his  board  was  covered  with  the  fruits 
of  the  soil  and  the  chase,  rather  than  the  luxuries  of 
foreign  climes,  the  fare  was  various  and  abundant. 

"  The  first  hotel  at  Zanesville  stood  at  what  is  now 
the  corner  of  Market  and  Second  Streets,  a  few  rods 
from  the  river,  in  an  open  maple  grove,  without  any 
underbrush ;  it  was  a  pleasant  spot,  well  shaded  with 
trees,  and  in  full  view  of  the  falls.  Louis  Philippe,  the 
former  king  of  France,  was  once  a  guest  of  Mr.  Mclntire. 
The  Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  in  his  '  Camp  and  Court  of  Louis 
Philippe/  thus  alludes  to  the  circumstance  :  '  At  Zanes- 
ville the  party  found  the  comfortable  cabin  of  Mr. 
Mclntire,  whose  name  has  been  preserved  in  the  king's 
memory,  and  whose  house  was  a  favorite  place  of  rest 
and  refreshment  for  all  the  travellers  who,  at  this  early 
period,  were  compelled  to  traverse  that  part  of  the 
country.  And  if  these  pages  should  chance  to  meet  the 
eyes  of  any  of  those  who,  like  the  writer,  have  passed 
many  a  pleasant  hour  under  the  roof  of  this  uneducated, 
but  truly  worthy  and  respectable  man,  he  trusts  they  will 
unite  in  this  tribute  to  his  memory/ 

"  In  1804,  when  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  estab- 
lishing the  county  of  Muskingum,  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  select  the  site  for  the  county  seat,  reported  in 
favor  of  Zanesville.  The  buildings  were  yet  few  in  num- 


20  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

her,  and  the  streets  and  lots  were  principally  covered  with 
the  native  growth  ;  but  the  citizens,  in  order  to  put  on  the 
best  appearance  possible,  turned  out,  while  Zanesville 
was  yet  a  candidate  (if  we  may  so  speak)  for  the  county 
Beat,  and  cut  out  the  bushes  from  some  of  the  principal 
streets,  and  especially  from  the  public  square,  that  the 
situation  might  appear  to  the  best  possible  advantage  in 
the  eyes  of  the  commissioners.  An  anecdote  may  serve 
to  convey  some  idea  of  the  difficulties  of  frontier  life  ;  it 
may  also  show  that  vice  and  crime  were  not  less  scorned 
then  than  in  later  days.  After  the  organization  of  the 
county,  but  before  the  erection  of  any  public  buildings, 
two  men  were  apprehended  on  a  charge  of  counterfeiting 
silver  dollars.  It  was  impracticable  to  send  them  to  the 
jail  at  Marietta,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  through  the 
woods,  until  the  next  term  of  court,  to  which  they  were 
bound  over.  To  turn  them  loose  or  permit  them  to 
escape  would  encourage  others  to  depredate  in  like  man- 
ner ;  it  was  necessary,  therefore,  that  they  should  be  pun- 
ished. Under  these  circumstances,  Mr.  Mclntire  called 
on  Daniel  Convers,  and  in  strong  language  stated  his 
views,  adding,  '  We  must  take  them  in  charge  and  keep 
them  until  court.'  This  was  contrary  to  law;  but  as 
necessity  knows  no  law,  the  justice  was  persuaded  to 
surrender  them  to  Mclntire  and  Convers,  as  they  pledged 
themselves  that  if  the  prisoners  were  not  forthcoming  at 
the  hour  of  trial,  they  would  take  their  places  and  abide 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   SHEEIDAN.  21 

the  penalty.  After  conducting  them  to  a  cabin  selected 
for  the  purpose,  and  putting  handcuffs  on  them,  they 
were  addressed  by  Mclntire,  who,  axe  in  hand,  stood  by 
the  door.  '  Now,  boys/  said  he,  pointing  to  the  blanketa 
provided  for  their  bed,  'there  is  your  bed;  with  youl 
guilt  or  innocence  we  have  nothing  to  do — you  shalj 
have  plenty  to  feat  and  to  drink ;  but/  added  he,  raising 
his  right  arm  in  a  threatening  manner,  *  if  you  attempt 
to  escape  I'll  kill  you.'  The  firm,  resolute  manner  of  the 
address,  deterred  them  from  making  the  attempt.  Mcln- 
tire, with  his  axe  by  his  side,  took  his  seat  by  the  door, 
and  here,  day  after  day  and  night  after  night,  did  he  and 
his  associates  watch  the  prisoners,  until  the  term  of  court 
arrived,  when  they  were  tried  and  convicted.  One  con- 
fessed his  crime,  and  told  where  their  tools  were  secreted, 
about  eighteen  miles  off,  on  the  rocky  fork  of  the  Lick- 
ing, where  they  were  found  and  brought  into  court. 
Agreeably  to  the  law  then  in  force,  he  was  sentenced  to 
receive  twenty-five  lashes,  well  laid  on,  and  to  stand 
committed  until  all  costs  were  paid.  The  other  was  to 
receive  thirty-nine  lashes,  and  also  to  be  recommitted. 
Their  sentence  was  immediately  carried  into  effect  as  to 
the  stripes,  which  were  well  applied  by  Mr.  Beymer, 
the  sheriff.  After  having  been  recommitted  to  their 
prison,  they  were  left  on  parole  of  honor,  and  their 
guards  once  more  retired  to  their  beds,  free  from  care. 
Next  morning,  to  the  great  gratification  of  all,  it  was 


22  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

found,  notwithstanding  their  promise  to  the  contrary, 
they  were  among  the  missing,  their  handcuffs  having 
been  carefully  laid  away  for  the  use  of  their  successors. 
Mr.  Mclntire,  the  founder  and  patron  of  Zanesville,  was 
indefatigable  in  his  attention  to  the  interests  of  the  town, 
no  personal  or  pecuniary  sacrifice  being  considered  too 
great,  in  his  anxiety  to  promote  its  prosperity.  Zanes- 
ville has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  principal  towns 
in  the  State,  and  once  bid  fair  to  yield  the  palm  only  to 
Cincinnati.  But  the  extensive  internal  improvements  of 
the  State  have  built  up  her  rivals,  while  they  have  cut  off, 
to  some  extent,  her  trade,  and  checked  the  rapidity  of 
her  growth." 

Here  you  might  have  seen  Sheridan,  then  in  his 
"  teens,"  daily  driving  a  water-cart,  a  faithful,  intelligent 
youth,  when  he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  member  of 
Congress  from  that  district.  An  elder  brother,  who  had 
some  influence  politically,  interested  himself  in  "  Phil's  " 
possible  appointment  to  a  cadetship  in  the  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point.  The  young  cartman  had  other 
friends  also,  and  in  1848  he  was  selected  by  the  Congress- 
man for  examination  to  enter  that  institution.  He  passed 
the  ordeal  and  was  admitted  to  the  institution.  The  grad- 
uates of  the  Academy  cherish  the  remembrance  of  the 
scenery  around  it,  unsurpassed  in  variety  and  grandeur, 
more  fondly  than  they  do  that  of  the  discipline  within  it. 

Of  loth)  however,  a  more  complete  description  may  be 


IJFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  23 

desired  by  the  young  reader,  not  only  because  nearly  all 
of  our  greatest  generals  of  the  civil  war  were  graduates — 
and  you  will  thus  read  substantially  their  history  there — 
but  some  of  you  may  yet  go  there,  to  know  the  truth  of 
the  sketches  for  yourselves.  And  I  do  not  know  of  a 
finer  description  in  its  fidelity  than  that  given  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  D wight,  in  1778,  afterwards  President  of  Yale 
College,  and  then  Chaplain  in  the  Revolutiouary  War, 
and  stationed  at  West  Point.  This  fact  gives  the  pen- 
picture  peculiar  interest.  The  "  house  deserted  by  its 
inhabitants,"  he  refers  to,  was  the  Beverly  House,  taken 
by  the  Government  from  Colonel  Beverly  Robinson,  a 
Scotchman,  because  he  joined  the  loyalists  against  the 
rising  republic. 

"Wrote  the  excellent  and  distinguished  D  wight : — "  Yes- 
terday afternoon,  in  company  with  Major  Humphreys  I 
went  up  to  the  summit  of  Sugar  Loaf — a  mountain  near 
Colonel  Robinson's  house.  We  ascended  it  with  some 
difficulty,  from  the  steepness  of  the  acclivity,  and  from 
the  loose  stones,  which  frequently  sliding  from  under  our 
feet,  exposed  us  to  imminent  hazard  of  falling.  From 
the  summit  we  were  presented  with  an  extensive  and 
interesting  prospect,  comprising  the  objects  which  I  have 
heretofore  mentioned,  and  many  others  which  I  hd 
never  seen.  The  point  of  view  was  remarkably  happy  ; 
the  mountain  being  so  situated  as  to  bring  within  our 
reach  the  greatest  number  of  objects  in  the  surrounding 


24:  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   6HEKIDAN. 

region,  and  to  exhibit  them  to  the  highest  advantage. 
What  is  almost  a  singularity,  there  was  not  a  cheerful 
object  within  our  horizon.  Every  thing  which  we  beheld 
was  majestic,  solemn,  wild,  and  melancholy. 

"  The  northern  division  of  our  prospect  was  almost 
entirely  bounded  by  two  great  mountains,  named  Butter 
Hill  and  Breakneck ;  the  former  on  the  west,  the  latter 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson.  Both  abut  so  directly 
upon  the  river,  that  their  rude  lofty  cliffs  form  a  part  of 
its  banks.  These  mountains  ascend  at  the  distance  of 
perhaps  six  miles  from  the  spot  where  we  surveyed  them 
and  extend  northward  to  the  valley  of  Fishkill. 

"  From  Breakneck  stretches  a  range  of  inferior  mag- 
nitude, at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  one,  and  two  miles 
from  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Hudson ;  the  ground  be- 
tween them  and  the  river  being  generally  level,  and 
capable  of  cultivation.  It  contains  a  small  number  of 
other  houses  besides  that  of  Col.  Robinson.  Of  this 
range  Sugar  Loaf  is  the  termination,  its  southern  limit 
being  the  river. 

"  Still  eastward  of  this  range  ascend  others,  termi- 
nating also  on  the  Hudson.  The  southernmost,  which 
is  in  sight  on  the  eastern  side,  and  indeed  the  southern- 
most of  the  whole  cluster,  is  Anthony's  nose ;  a  noble 
bluff,  whose  cliffs  rise  almost  perpendicularly  from  the 
water's  edge  to  the  height  of  perhaps  1,500  feet,  with  a 
sublimity  which  I  believe  is  not  often  rivalled. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  25 

"  On  the  western  side  runs  a  rude  range  of  moun- 
tains, commencing  at  Butter  Hill,  and  terminating,  to 
the  eye,  at  a  point,  opposite  to  Anthony's  Nose.  The 
three  loftiest  summits  in  the  range  are  the  Crow's  Nest, 
a,  fine  sharp  cone  Bear  Hill,  and  the  Donderbarrak,  cr 
Thunder  Hill.  At  the  foot  of  these  commences  a  plain, 
of  no  great  breadth ;  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  call  that 
a  plain  which,  while  it  approaches  generally  toward  a 
level  surface,  is  undulating,  rocky,  and  wild,  throughout  a 
great  part  of  its  extent.  This  tract  reaches  northward  to 
West  Point,  and  southward  near  to  Anthony's  Nose. 
Directly  north,  the  Hudson,  here  a  mile  in  breadth,  and 
twice  as  wide  higher  up,  is  seen  descending  from  a  great 
distance,  and  making  its  way  between  the  magnificent 
cliffs  of  the  two  great  mountains,  Butter  Hill  and  Break- 
neck. The  grandeur  of  this  scene  defies  description. 
Through  the  opening  here  called  the  Wey-gat,  or  Wind- 
gate,  because  the  wind  often  blows  through  it  with  great 
violence,  is  visible  the  cultivated  country  at  New  Wind- 
sor, throughout  a  considerable  extent.  Beyond  this,  at 
the  distance  of  about  forty  miles,  rise  the  Cattskill  Moun- 
tains, whose  blue  summits  were  at  this  time  lost  in  the 
clouds.  In  this  reach  of  the  river  lies  an  island,  to  the 
eye  a  mere  bird's  nest ;  and  near  it  were  two  boats,  ro 
sembling  in  size  those  which  children  make  of  paper. 

"  South  of  these  two  mountains  the  river  bends  be- 
tween West  Point  and  Fort  Constitution,  and  for  a  short 


20  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

space  is  invisible.  Thence  it  becomes  visible  again,  and 
continues  in  sight  till  the  prospect  is  terminated  by  An- 
thony's Nose  on  the  eastern,  and  Bear  Hill  on  the  west- 
ern side. 

"  Directly  opposite  to  us  was  a  mill  stream,  which, 
swollen  at  this  time  by  the  dissolving  snows,  poured  a 
large  sheet  of  foam,  white  as  snow,  over  a  high  ledge 
of  rocks  into  the  Hudson.  In  other  circumstances  this 
object  would  have  been  beautiful ;  now  it  only  enhanced 
the  general  solemnity  and  grandeur,  by  filling  the  neigh- 
boring region  with  a  loud  sound,  resembling  the  distant 
roar  of  the  ocean.  This  sound  was  apparently  echoed  by 
the  numerous  torrents  which  were  everywhere  rushing 
down  the  mountains. 

"  Beneath  us  was  a  house,  deserted  by  its  inhabitants, 
a  family  possessed,  a  little  while  since,  of  all  the  enjoy- 
ments which  this  life  can  furnish  ;  intelligent,  refined,  and 
amiable.  It  is  deserted,  not  improbably  to  be  se"en  by 
them  no  more.  Whether  the  father  acted  wisely  or  un- 
wisely, defensibly  or  indefensibly,  I  am  not  interested  to 
inquire.  Against  the  mother  and  the  children,  even  prej- 
udice can  bring  no  allegation. 

"  Southward,  at  the  distance  of  perhaps  four  miles, 
were  the  ruins  of  Fort  Montgomery.  Here  more  than 
one  hundred  of  our  countrymen  became  victims,  a  few 
months  since,  to  the  unprincipled  claims  of  avarice  and 
ambition.  *  *  *  Northward,  at  about  the  same  dis- 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN.  27 

tance,  was  West  Point,  where  the  same  scenes  of  slaugh- 
ter may  not  improbably  be  soon  acted  over  again. 

*'  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  the  Hudson  should 
have  found  so  fine  and  safe  a  bed  in  a  country  so 
rough,  and  between  banks  so  often  formed  of  mountains 
or  high  hills,  and  to  so  great  an  extent  abutting  upon  it 
in  precipices  of  a  stupendous  height.  Yet  even  through 
the  highlands  its  navigation  is  perfectly  uninterrupted.  .  .  . 
There  is  a  grandeur  in  the  passage  of  this  river  through 
the  highlands,  unrivalled  by  any  thing  of  the  same  nature 
within  my  knowledge.  At  its  entrance  particularly,  and 
its  exit,  the  mountains  ascend  with  stupendous  precipices 
immediately  from  the  margin  of  its  waters,  appearing  as 
if  the  chasm  between  them  had  been  produced  by  the 
irresistible  force  of  this  mighty  current,  and  the  interven- 
ing barrier,  at  each  place,  had  been  broken  down,  and 
finally  carried  away  into  the  ocean.  These  cliffs  hang 
over  the  river,  especially  at  its  exit  from  the  mountains, 
with  a  wild  and  awful  sublimity,  suited  to  the  grandeur 
of  the  river  itself;  which,  speedily  after  it  escapes  from 
these  barriers,  expands  its  current  to  the  breadth  of  three 
miles,  and  soon  after  to  that  of  four,  and  pours  a  vast 
stream  two  miles  wide,  and  sufficiently  deep  to  waft  a 
seventy-four  gun  ship,  until  it  is  lost  in  the  bay  of  New 
York." 

Only  a  good  common  school  education  is  required  for 
admission  to  the  academy,  with  physical  soundness,  the 


28  LIFE  OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

required  age,  which  is  not  less  than  sixteen  years,  nor 
over  twenty-one,  and  the  proper  height,  which  must  be 
five  feet  or  more.  Each  cadet  signs  an  agreement  to 
serve  eight  years  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  and 
obey  all  the  rules  of  the  institution. 

The  course  of  instruction,  which  occupies  four  years, 
embraces  military  tactics,  natural  sciences,  mathematics, 
French,  history,  and  other  English  studies,  and  drawing ; 
to  the  latter  of  which  great  attention  is  paid.  The  oldest 
class  is  called  the  first,  the  next  the  second,  and  so  on. 

The  commencement  is  on  the  1st  of  July.  During 
this  and  the  following  month  the  cadets  have  the  encamp- 
ment, of  which  you  will  have  a  glimpse  from  one  of  their 
number.  The  daily  allowance  of  time  for  study  is  not 
less  than  nine,  nor  more  than  ten  hours. 

The  annual  examination  of  classes  commences  on  the 
first  Monday  in  June,  before  an  Academic  Board,  which 
consists  of  the  superintendent  and  professors,  with  a 
Board  of  Visitors  appointed  by  tl  e  Secretary  of  War. 
A  careful  record  of  every  recitation  is  kept,  and  in  the 
Annual  Register  is  published  a  conduct-roll — a  complete 
statement  of  the  violations  of  rules. 

There  are  seven  grades  of  crime,  whose  mark  of  de- 
merit is  from  1  to  10.  To  give  an  illustration:  absence 
from  reveille  roll-call  is  3 ;  bringing  ardent  spirits  into 
barracks,  8.  When  the  number  of  demerits  in  a  year 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  29 

exceeds  200,  the  cadet  is  recommended  to  the  War  De- 
partment for  expulsion  from  the  Academy. 

The  cadets  are  allowed  but  one  absence  during  the 
four  years'  course,  usually  at  the  end  of  the  second 
year,  and  during  July  and  August.  But  only  a  quarter 
of  the  whole  number  can  go  at  any  one  time,  and  none 
whose  demerit  is  over  150  for  the  preceding  twelve 
months. 

The  dress,  which  is  gray,  is  a  coatee,  white  drilling 
pants,  white  gloves,  and  black  dress  cap. 

The  punishments  for  misconduct  are  of  three  kinds : 
Privation  of  recreation,  extra  tours  of  guard  duty,  repri- 
mands or  confinement  to  room  or  tent ;  confinement  in  light 
or  dark  prison;  and  dismission  with  the  privilege  of  re- 
signing, or  public  dismission. 

The  superintendent  can  inflict  the  first  variety  of 
punishment,  and  a  court-martial  the  second.  Disobedi- 
ence and  disrespect  toward  officers  and  instructors,  ex- 
poses the  offender  to  expulsion. 

Card  playing,  and  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks,  are 
forbidden.  The  following  irregularities  are  punishable 
with  severe  penalties:  All  cooking  in  barracks  or  in 
camp ;  damaging  or  selling  public  property ;  absence 
from  quarters,  and  visiting  in  study  hours,  and  at  night ; 
answering  for  another  at  roll-call ;  encouraging  or  pro- 
voking duels,  and  ungentlemanly  conduct ;  combinations 
against  authority ;  publishing  accounts  of  the  Academy, 


01)  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

or  of  transactions  in  the  Institution ;  receiving  money  or 
supplies  from  home ;  absence  from  duty ;  neglect  of 
study ;  disregard  of  the  Sabbath ;  profanity ;  taking  a 
newspaper  without  permission ;  having  other  dress  than 
that  prescribed ;  lending  accoutrements ;  throwing  any 
thing  from  the  windows  and  doors  in  barracks  ;  having  a 
light  burning  after  10  P.  M. ;  running ;  loud  talking,  and 
scuffling  in  barracks  ;  receiving  strangers  in  barracks  in 
study  hours.  The  cadets  are  not  allowed  to  pass  over 
the  road  surrounding  the  plain  of  West  Point  (including 
the  sidewalk),  without  special  permission.  On  Satur- 
day afternoons,  and  during  the  encampment  on  other 
days,  leave  can  be  obtained  to  wallr  upon  certain  parts  of 
the  public  lands,  including  Mount  Independence  and 
Crow's  Nest. 

No  cadet  can  visit  any  family,  except  on  Saturday 
afternoon,  without  a  written  invitation  and  the  special 
permission  of  the  superintendent,  or  go  to  the  hotel 
without  a  written  permit  specifying  the  time  of  the  visit, 
and  the  name  of  the  persons  on  whom  he  may  wish  to 
call.  No  cadet  can  enter  any  room  or  hall  of  the  hotel 
except  the  hall  and  drawing-rooms  of  the  first  story,  or 
when  there  take  dinner  or  any  other  meal. 

The  cadets  are  allowed  twenty-eight  dollars  a  month 
each  ;  of  which  sum  about  one-half  is  required  for  board, 
and  the  remainder  is  credited  to  him,  or  may  be  expended 
for  clothing,  books,  and  furniture ;  two  dollars  of  the 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  31 

amount  are  reserved  for  a  fund  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
uniform,  when  the  graduated  cadet  is  promoted.  In  four 
years  there  accumulates  a  purse  of  one  hundred  dollars — 
sufficient  to  give  the  young  officer  a  handsome  "  fitting 
out "  for  the  field. 

In  the  summer-time  there  is  daily  drill,  excepting 
Saturdays,  after  4  p.  M.,  and  a  dress  parade  at  sunset, 
and  parade  and  inspection  every  Sunday  morning  before 
church.  The  cadets  are  firemen  also,  drilled  to  the  use 
of  engines,  and  called  out  when  the  alarm  of  fire  is 
sounded. 

You  will  be  amused  with  the  order  of  business : 

"  Eeveille"  at  5  A.  M.  in  summer  and  6  in  winter. 
Roll-call  immediately  after.  Then  cleaning  arms  and 
accoutrements.  Inspection  of  rooms  thirty  minutes  after 
roll-call.  This  is  followed  by  study  of  the  lessons  to  be 
recited  during  the  morning. 

At  7  A.  M.  the  signal  for  breakfast  is  given.  "  Troop" 
and  guard-mounting  ai  half-past  7.  Morning  parade  at  8 
(in  camp). 

From  8  A.  M.  to  1  P.  M.,  recitation  and  study. 

Dinner  at  1.     Recreation  until  2. 

From  2  to  4  p.  M.  recitation,  or  study,  or  drawing. 
After  4,  military  exercises  for  an  hour  or  longer,  and 
recreation.  At  sunset,  evening  parade.  Supper  imme- 
diately after.  Call  to  quarters  30  minutes  after  supper. 
From  that  time  till  half-past  9,  study.  "  Tattoo,1'  a  pre- 


82  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKEDAN. 

paratory  signal  at  half-past  9.  Lights  extinguished  and 
inspection  of  rooms  at  the  signal  "  Taps"  at  10  p.  M. 

As  the  studies  are  not  pursued  during  the  encamp- 
meat,  the  hours  allotted  to  recitations  and  study  are  then 
devoted  to  recreation  or  military  drill,  and  the  evenings 
to  merry  making  in  the  dancing  parties  and  in  other 
amusements. 

The  arrangements  are  such  that,  besides  nun:  eroua 
inspections  by  the  army  *"  officer  in  charge,"  and  the 
cadet  "  officer  of  the  day,"  there  are  at  least  four  roll- 
calls  daily. 

The  first  immediately  after  reveille. 

The  second  immediately  before  breakfast. 

The  third  immediately  before  dinner. 

The  fourth  immediately  before  evening  parade,  and 
other  roll-calls  for  recitation  and  drill.  If  any  cadet  is 
absent  from  one  of  these  roll-calls  unexcused  and  not  on 
duty,  the  fact  is  immediately  reported,  and  a  careful 
watch  kept  until  he  reappears. 

The  same  systematic  order  prevails  throughout  every 
thing  that  is  done.  The  different  sections  march  in  silence 
to  and  from  their  recitations  under  the  charge  of  fhe  best 
of  their  number  as  sqaad  marcher.  The  companies  also 
march  to  the  mess-hall,  "  with  slow  and  solemn  tread," 
and  there  take  their  seats  in  regular  order,  preserving  a 
constant  silence. 

As  the  dress-j  arade  occurs  daily,  it  may  be  well  to 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  33 

give  some  description  and  explanation  of  the  form  of  pro- 
ceeding : 

"  At  the  proper  time  the  band  assembles  on  the  regi- 
mental parade,  and  each  company  turns  out  under  arms 
on  its  own  parade  for  roll-call  and  inspection.  Soon  after, 
the  signal  is  given  for  the  companies  to  march  to  the  regi- 
mental parade,  where  they  form  in  the  order  of  battle, 
with  the  officers  at  their  posts  and  the  Adjutant  on  the 
right  of  the  line.  The  senior  officer  present,  usually  an 
instructor  of  tactics,  takes  a  position  at  a  considerable 
distance  in  front,  opposite  the  centre  and  facing  the  line. 
The  Adjutant  then  orders  the  music,  which  is  on  his 
right,  to  "  beat  off,"  when  the  band,  beginning  to  play, 
march  forward  a  few  paces,  then  along  the  front  of  the 
line  till  they  have  passed  the  whole  length,  when  they 
wheel  and  return  to  their  former  position,  and  give  a 
salute.  At  this  moment  the  flag  is  lowered  and  the  even- 
ing-gun fired.  The  roar  of  the  cannon  is  echoed  and  re- 
echoed, as  if  each  hill  for  miles  was  uttering  its  response 
to  the  signal,  and  repeating  the  watchword  to  its  neighbor. 

"  After  the  return  of  the  band  the  Adjutant  steps  for- 
ward and  commands — Attention ! — Shoulder  ARMS  ! — 
Prepare  to  open  ranks  I — To  the  rear,  Ofen  order! — 
MARCH  ! — Eight — DRESS  !  As  these  commands  are 
given,  the  ranks  assume  a  different  appearance,  the  com- 
missioned officers  all  marching  forward  several  paces, 
and  the  non-commissioned  officers  falling  back  in  the  rear, 


34:  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

The  Adjutant  seeing  the  whole  properly  arranged  and 
ordering  FRONT  !  then  marches  along  the  front  to  the 
centre,  faces  to  the  right,  and  passes  eight  or  ten  paces 
before  the  line  of  company  officers,  when  he  comes  to  the 
right  about  and  gives  the  word  Present — ARMS  !  When 
he  sees  this  executed,  the  officers  saluting,  he  faces  the 
commanding  officer,  salutes  and  reports  4  the  parade  is 
formed.'  He  then  is  ordered  to  take  his  post,  which  he 
does  by  marching  around  the  rear  of  the  commander,  and 
standing  on  his  left.  The  commanding  officer  acknowl- 
edges the  salute  of  the  line  by  touching  his  hat,  and 
drawing  his  sword  commands  Shoulder  ARMS  1  He  then 
adds  such  exercises  as  he  thinks  proper,  concluding  with 
Order  ARMS  !  The  Adjutant  being  then  told  to  receive 
the  reports,  passes  back  to  his  former  position  in  front  of 
the  line,  and  commands,  First  Sergeants,  to  the  front  and 
centre,  MARCH  !  At  the  first  order  the  first  sergeant 
of  each  company  shoulders  arms,  marches  two  paces  to 
the  front  and  faces  inwards.  At  the  second  command 
they  march  to  the  centre  of  the  line  and  halt.  The  Ad- 
jutant then  orders  Front — FACE  ! — Eeport  I  At  the  last 
word  each  in  succession,  beginning  at  the  right,  reports 
the  result  of  the  roll-call  previously  made  on  the  company 
parade.  These  reports  are  usually  in  the  form,  '  Com- 
pany A  present  or  accounted  for,'  and  so  on  with  com- 
panies B,  C,  and  D.  Sometimes  '  Two  privates  absent 
from  Company  AS  is  the  report. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  35 

"  The  Adjutant  again  commands,  First  Sergeants,  out- 
ward— FACE  !  To  your  posts — MARCH  !  And  they  re- 
sume their  places.  The  Adjutant,  turning  to  the  com- 
manding officer,  salutes,  and  gives  the  result  of  the  First 
Sergeants'  reports.  He  is  then  directed  to  read  his  or- 
ders, and,  facing  about,  he  announces  Attention  to  Orders, 
and  reads  such  general  orders  as  may  have  been  commu- 
nicated to  him.  These  having  been  read,  he  again  faces 
the  commanding  officer,  salutes,  and  reports  that  the  or- 
ders are  read,  when,  on  an  intimation  from  the  com- 
mander, he  faces  again  to  the  line,  and  announces  The 
Parade  is  dismissed.*  All  the  officers  now  return  their 
swords,  face  inwards,  and  close  on  the  Adjutant,  who 
takes  the  centre.  He  then  gives  the  word  Front — FACE  ! 
Forward — MARCH  !  and  they  march  forward  with  music 
till  within  six  paces  of  the  commanding  officer,  when 
they  halt,  and  salute  by  raising  the  hand  to  the  cap,  re- 
maining in  that  position  while  he  communicates  such 
instructions  as  he  may  have  to  give,  or  by  returning  the 
salute  intimates  that  the  ceremony  is  finished.  As  the 
officers  disperse,  the  First  Sergeants  close  the  ranks  of 
their  respective  companies,  and  march  them  to  the  com- 

*  A  writer  in  Niles  Register,  September,  1815,  says  :  "  Before  the 
parade  is  dismissed  the  companies  are  drawn  up  in  an  open  square, 
aud  an  evening  prayer  is  delivered  by  the  chaplain."  This  custom 
has  for  a  long  time  been  dispensed  with,  and  no  practice  of  the  kind 
exists  at  present. 


36  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

pany  parades,  where  they  are  dismissed ;  the  band  con- 
tinuing to  play  until  the  companies  clear  the  regimental 
parade-ground. 

"  The  morning  parade,  at  8  A.  M.,  during  the  encamp- 
ment only,  is  followed  by  the  ceremony  of  guard-mount- 
ing, and  is  like  the  evening  parade,  except  the  firing  of 
the  cannon." 

With  a  diploma  the  cadet  is  ready  for  promotion,  be- 
ginning second  lieutenant ;  or,  if  there  be  no  vacancy, 
brevet  second  lieutenant — a  complimentary  position  till  a 
regular  appointment  can  be  made. 

I  cannot  give  a  better  impression  of  the  experience  of 
the  young  gentlemen  there,  than  you  will  get  from  a  letter 
written  me  many  years  since  by  a  cadet  who  graduated  a 
year  before  the  western  boy  entered,  and  died  a  colonel  in 
the  Union  ranks  soon  after  the  civil  war  opened  its  awful 
tragedy.  The  letter  was  written  during  the  summer  en- 
campment annually  established  for  the  cadets,  that  they' 
may  learn  something  of  out-door  military  life.  But  how 
different,  you  will  say,  from  the  actual  experience  in  our 
terrible  war : 

"  CAMP  SPENCER  (WEST  POINT),  June  25,  1842. 

u  MY  DEAR  FRIEND  :  I  sometimes  feel  lonely  among 

a  multitude.     I  know  you  have  experienced  the  same 

feeling  and  know  the  sensation  produced  by  so  singular 

an  incongruity.     Frequently,  while  undergoing  the  '  ter- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  37 

rible  drill,"  my  body  moves  mechanically — my  thoughts 
are  with  the  loved  ones  far  away.  I  am  sitting  in  my 
tent,  on  a  locker,  with  my  paper  lying  on  a  tent-stool, 
while  music,  and  dancing,  and  talking,  and  laughing, 
and  every  species  of  noise  is  around  me — as  it  is  recre- 
ation hour.  There  are  about  one  hundred  tents  pitched. 
The  'dreaded'  examination  has  passed,  and  fifteen 
'foundj  but  I  am  not  among  the  number ;  for,  strange 
to  say,  I  did  not  miss  a  question.  We  were  taken  to  the 
hospital,  stripped  to  nudity,  and  strictly  examined.  Study 
here  is  different  from  most  institutions,  and  you  are  re- 
ported for  every  thing  under  the  sun.  Had  you  been 
here  last  night  you  would  have  seen  about  half  of  our 
class  going  to  the  '  guard  tent.'  The  way  they  do  it  is, 
for  the  sentinel  to  fling  tent-pins  at  a  tent.  Then  the  com- 
mandant calls  out,  '  Stop  that  noise  ! J  '  Corporal  guard ' 
No.  5,  6,  or  as  the  case  may  be.  The  guard  comes  down, 
gets  you  up,  and  marches  you  off  to  the  guard-tent.  As  I 
tent  with  H.  I  have  not  got  in.  We  are  allowed  in  tent 
two  blankets,  one  pillow,  one  stool  each,  and  to  each  tent 
one  pail,  one  dipper,  one  basin,  one  looking  glass,  and 
one  locker  or  box  to  put  things  in.  A  little  before  sun- 
rise the  morning  gun  is  fired,  the  drums  beat,  and  cry 
given, '  Fall  in  there '  A  company — G,  C,  D,  do.  The  roll 
is  then  called,  and  a  fellow  has  then  thirty  minutes  to  roll 
up  his  blankets,  sweep  up  his  tent,  and  be  prepared  for 
morning  inspection,  We  are  then  called  out  to  drill  an 


38  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

hour  and  a  quarter,  marched  back,  dismissed  for  ten 
minutes,  then  marched  to  breakfast,  which  is  potatoes  and 
meat  mixed,  bread,  butter,  and  coffee.  We  have  about  ten 
minutes  in  which  to  eat,  and  then  back  again,  and  drilled 
from  eleven  to  twelve.  Dinner  at  one — beef,  potatoes,  and 
bread.  Dress  parade  at  five  p.  M.,  and  guard-mounting 
at  eight  A.  M.  At  every  parade  the  boots  must  be  blacked, 
but  you  are  not  allowed  to  do  it  yourself.  Supper  con- 
sists of  bread,  butter,  and  tea,  etc.  I  cannot  tell  you  half 
for  want  of  room  and  time.  They  put  candles  round  a 
hollow  square  in  the  evening,  and  dance  till  '  taps/  Of 
course  I  stay  in  my  tent.  I  like  the  whole  of  it,  but  it  is 
hard  work.  We  have  a  great  many  visitors.  What  scenery, 
what  a  place  !  There  are  many  who  have  graduated  with 
honor  and  studied  through  the  course  ;  so  of  course  it  will 
be  hard  for  me,  but  I  shall  not  be  at  the  foot  of  the  class" 

A  week  later  the  cadet  wrote : 

"  When  on  parade  we  must  keep  our  '  heads  directly 
to  the  front/  with  our  '  eyes  on  the  ground  fifteen  paces 
in  front,'  consequently  a  thousand  ladies  and  gentlemen 
might  be  in  front,  about  six  rods  (and  there  are  some 
hundreds  generally),  without  our  ever  seeing  any  thing 
but  their  forms.  Indeed,  when  Governor  Seward  was 
here  the  other  day,  he  was  within  five  rods  of  me,  in 
front,  and  I  did  not  see  him.  You  say  you  felt  '  West 
Pointish'  on  the  Fourth.  You  would  have  felt  strangely 
had  you  been  here.  Three  boat-loads  came  up  the  river, 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAff.  3$ 

and  I  don't  know  how  many  down.  The  Point  was 
alive ;  for  my  part,  with  a  friend,  I  declared  war,  as  all 
do  on  the  Fourth,  on  the  regulations,  and  taking  the 
woods  for  a  shelter  from  the  eyes  of  lookouts,  ransacked 
the  '  crags '  in  search  of  new  discoveries,  and  even  on  the 
summit  of  Mount  Independence  and  Redoubt  Hill  we 
found  ladies  and  gentlemen  without  number.  How  they 
ever  got  up  is  a  mystery.  It  would  take  an  abler  and 
more  military  pen  than  mine  to  describe  the  ball-room 
and  proceedings,  so  I  shall  not  attempt  it.  I  did  not  at- 
tend the  ball.  The  music  kept  me  awake  all  night.  Oh  ! 
I  wish  you  could  be  here  one  night.  In  front  of  the 
tents  they  form  a  large  hollow  square,  with  candles,  and 
then  dance  as  if  victory  or  death  depended  upon  the  re- 
sult. While  in  another  part,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  tents, 
the  band — the  best  in  the  United  States  by  the  way—- 
with Kendall  for  its  leader,  is  giving  utterance  to  the  best 
pieces,  with  melody  thrilling  every  heart.  The  effect  is 
wonderful.  You  gaze  almost  bewildered  to  see  the  uni- 
forms passing  with  the  rapidity  of  thought,  while  ladies 
from  every  part  are  walking  in  the  line  where  light  and 
shadow  meet.  Behind,  the  sentinels  are  but  just  dis- 
tinguished, and  to  many,  as  they  look  back  and  see  the 
summits  overhead,  the  grim  challenge  (which  I  some- 
times give)  of  c  Who  goes  there  ?  Halt !  advance  and 
give  the  countersign/  is  startling.  I  could  give  you 
many  laughable  IncidentB  of  fellows  scared  out  of  their 


4:0  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN. 

wit$  by  a  charge  of  the  bayonet,  thinking  that  their 
last  hour  was  surely  come.  It  is  surprising  how  you 
can  use  such  needless  luxuries  as  chairs,  tables,  beds,  and 

* 

overcoats  !  My  health  was  never  better.  The  examin- 
ation was  more  severe  this  year  on  account  of  so  many 
petitions  to  abolish  the  Academy.  An  order  was  read  last 
night  that  all  must  wear  the  dimity  pants ;  almost  all 
have  eight  or  ten  pair  of  white  linen.  I  will  give  you  a 
little  specimen  of  what  our  personal  appearance  must  be. 
I  yesterday  changed  my  pants  four  times,  had  my  boots 
blacked  four  times,  and  scoured  my  gun  all  my  spare 
time,  and  then  got  '  skinned'  for  not  having  my  bayonet 
bright  enough ;  then  think  of  polishing  trimmings,  keep 
ing  the  beard  short,  gloves  perfectly  white,  and  see  if  it 
will  not  make  a  nice  fellow  of  me  !  '* 

June,  1853,  Cadet  Sheridan  graduated  brevet  second 
lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Infantry.  In  his  course 
of  study  he  ranked  high,  even  with  such  classmates  as 
the  gallant  and  lamented  McPherson,  Major-General 
Schofield,  Brigadier-Generals  TerriU,  Sill,  and  Tyler. 
The  famous  rebel  General  Hood  was  also  with  him  in 
all  the  discipline  of  those  four  years,  preparing,  they  all 
supposed,  for  honorable  service  in  behalf  of  a  common 
country ;  but  how  melancholy  the  record  of  the  war  in 
connection  with  that  of  the  Academy  ! 

The  autumn  of  1853  found  Lieutenant  Sheridan  on 
his  way  to  Fort  Duncan,  Texas,  where  his  regiment  was 


LIFE   OF   GENEBAL   SHERIDAN.  41 

Btationed.  This  fortification  is  on  the  Rio  Grande,  the 
western  border  of  Texas,  between  Fort  Clark  on  the 
north  and  Fort  Mclntosh  on  the  south,  and  not  far  from 
Eagle  Pass.  You  will  see  that  it  is  away  beyond  civilized 
society,  and  that  across  the  river  is  Mexico  with  her 
savage  tribes.  It  was  in  this  wild  and  perilous  country 
Sheridan,  just  past  his  majority,  went  to  take  his  first 
lessons  in  practical  military  service. 


CHAPTER  H. 

The  Camanohes  and  Apaches— The  Border  "Warfare— A  Surpilse  ana  Battle- 
Heroic  Conduct — Unpleasant  Collision  with  his  Commander — Seeks  a  new 
Field  of  Service— Ordered  to  Oregon— Eepairs  to  New  York  to  Sail— As- 
signed to  command  Fort  "Wood. 

^EXICO,  lying  across  the  Rio  Grande,  had  then, 
as  now,  a  mixed  population  of  Indians,  Ne- 
groes, Creoles,  Mulattoes,  Zambos,  and  other 
races.  The  Indians  lived  on  the  table  lands, 
from  which  they  came  down  upon  the  frontier 
settlements  to  plunder  them.  More  than  twenty  different 
languages  are  spoken  in  Mexico.  The  forts  were  the 
castles  of  the  little  garrisons,  from  which  they  sallied 
forth  to  drive  back  the  invading  bands,  and  guard  the 
emigrants  who  had  pushed  out  on  the  border-land  of 
freedom  and  civilization — the  brave  pioneers  of  our  ag- 
gressive Yankee  nation.  The  Apache  and  Camanche 
Indians  are  very  warlike  and  independent  tribes,  and 
have  ever  been  the  terror  of  the  colonists  within  their 
reach.  They  are  implacable  enemies  of  the  Spaniards) 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  43 

who  attempted  to  reduce  them  to  slavery  by  appropriating 
to  such  servitude  their  prisoners  of  war.  But  the  wily, 
fearless  captives  got  away  from  their  masters  and  re- 
turned to  their  mountain  wigwams.  The  Spaniards  then 
sent  them  to  Cuba,  where,  from  change  of  climate  and 
broken  spirits,  they  soon  perished.  The  Indians  now  re- 
solved that  no  more  prisoners  should  be  taken — no  quar- 
ter would  be  asked  or  given  in  battle. 

From  that  time  no  captives  were  taken  unless  sur- 
prised while  asleep,  or  so  wounded  that  resistance  was 
fruitless.  Their  principal  weapon  originally  was  the 
bow  and  arrow.  Their  "  arrows  were  three  feet  long, 
made  of  reed  or  cane,  into  which  was  sunk  a  piece  of 
hard  wood,  pointed  with  iron,  bone,  or  stone.  They  shot 
them  with  such  force  that  at  the  distance  of  two  hundred 
paces  they  could  pierce  a  man  When  the  attempt  was 
made  to  draw  the  arrow  from  the  wound,  the  wood  de- 
tached itself,  and  the  point  remained  in  the  body.  The 
next  weapon  was  the  lance,  fifteen  feet  long.  When  they 
charged  the  enemy  they  held  this  lance  in  both  hands 
above  their  heads,  and  at  the  same  time  guided  their 
horse  by  pressing  him  with  their  knees.  Many  of  them 
used  firelocks,  which,  as  well  as  the  ammunition,  were 
taken  from  the  Spaniards,  who  never  sell  them  any. 
The  archers  and  fusileers  combated  on  foot,  but  the 
lancers  always  on  horseback.  Nothing  can  equal  the 
impetuosity  and  address  of  their  horsemen.  They  were 


44  LIFE   OF   GENEBAL   SHEKIDA1T. 

thunderbolts,  whose  stroke  it  was  impossible  to  parry 
or  escape." 

Such  was  the  general  character  of  the  enemies  Lieu- 
tenant Sheridan  and  his  comrades  had  to  contend  with  in 
Texas.  Nor  is  the  hatred  of  the  aborigines  toward  the 
Spaniard  and  the  white  man  strange  to  one  who  knows 
the  history  of  robbery,  treaty-breaking,  and  manifold 
abuses  to  which  they  have  been  subjected.  And  here  I 
must  give  you  a  part  of  an  eloquent  address  I  heard  from 
Bishop  Whipple,  of  the  West,  in  the  hall  of  the  University 
of  Philadelphia,  when  a  delegation  of  Sioux  sat  by  his 
side  on  the  platform.  All  hearts  were  thrilled  by  the 
strong,  Christian,  and  yet  indignant  appeal  of  the  bishop. 
He  said : 

"  There  were  periods  in  every  man's  history  when 
events  operating  upon  his  mind  would  give  him  a  deeper 
sense  of  God's  providence.  The  wrongs  of  the  red  men 
are  forming  a  bitter  portion  of  the  cup  of  anguish  that 
God  is  holding  to  the  lips  of  this  nation.  Day  by  day 
these  men  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ  are  sinking 
into  graves  dug  by  the  white  men.  To  hold  out  words 
of  cheer,  and  to  extend  acts  of  comfort  to  these  hapless, 
unfortunate  people,  constitute  a  mission  of  divinest  mercy, 
To  teach  these  men  religion,  with  its  blessings  and  its 
glories,  has  been  and  is  now  the  task  of  the  ministry  of 
Christ.  There  are  strange  facts  connected  with  the  In- 
dian country.  The  North  American  Indian  is  the  only 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAE.  45 

heathen  on  the  face  of  the  earth  who  is  not  an  idolater. 
They  always  recognize  with  reverence  the  name  and 
power  of  the  Great  Spirit. 

"  The  testimony  of  every  man  who  ever  knew  the 
nature  of  the  Indians  before  they  were  brought  into  rela- 
tion with  the  Government,  is  that  the  red  men  never  dealt 
in  double  dealing.  General  Sibley,  who  for  a  long  time 
was  the  frontier  agent,  says  he  never  locked  his  house  at 
night,  and  that  at  times  when  he  had  twenty  thousand 
dollars  in  silver  in  his  house.  He  had  often  come  down 
stairs  and  found  twelve  or  fifteen  Indians  grouped  in  the 
lower  rooms.  Yet  never  was  his  house  violated,  and 
never  was  a  theft  committed.  The  Maiden  Feast,  a  fes- 
tival among  the  Indians,  is  held  yearly,  and  no  girl  can 
escape  the  condemnation  of  her  tribe  unless  her  life  has 
been  one  of  unsullied  virtue.  And  every  maiden  in  the 
Indian  tribes  of  the  northwest,  away  from  the  border 
where  the  white  men  teach  the  red  men  vice  and  crime, 
is  required  to  attend  this  feast,  and  if  her  character  is 
stained  or  impure,  the  condemnation  of  the  whole  tribe  is 
visited  upon  her. 

"  The  English  Government  has  never  expended  a  dol- 
lar in  Indian  wars  ;  has  never  lost  a  man  by  Indian  mas- 
sacres. No  better  men  submit  to  English  rule  than  the 
red  men  of  the  Hudson  Bay  region  and  along  the  St. 
Lawrence.  Our  own  dealings  with  the  Indians  have 
been  a  mixture  of  robberies  and  mistakes.  American 


4:6  LIFE   OF   GENEBAL   SHEEIDAN. 

slavery  never  held  to  the  lips  of  the  black  men  the  vi-ongn 
and  bitterness  that  the  treatment  of  the  red  men  has  held 
to  their  lips.  The  utmost  wrjng  has  been  done  the  In- 
dians by  the  treaties  made  with  them.  In  the  interpre- 
tation which  is  carried  on,  the  misrepresentations  "and 
misstatements  which  are  made  deprive  the  tribes  of  all 
their  rights.  If  this  false  interpretation  fails,  the  greatest 
bribery  is  resorted  to  ;  and  if  an  Indian  is  killed,  if  he  is 
openly  murdered  in  the  streets  of  a  western  city,  there  is 
no  redress  to  the  Indians.  While  they  are  non-citizens 
of  the  country,  no  more  notice  is  taken  of  the  dead 
man  than  there  would  be  if  one  swine  had  killed 
another. 

"  Our  Government  recognizes  all  the  bad  claims  which 
are  made  against  the  Indians.  The  Winnebagoes  were 
lately  removed  from  Minnesota.  The  reason  urged  was 
that  the  people  were  in  terror.  The  fact  is  that  the  Sioux 
sent  a  delegation  to  the  Winnebagoes  inviting  them  to  join 
in*  the  massacre,  and  so  firm  was  their  friendship  for  the 
whites  that  the  messengers  were  murdered  on  the  spot. 
But  the  Winnebagoes  occupied  the  most  beautiful  part  of 
Minnesota,  and  they  were  removed.  Out  of  the  twenty- 
two  hundred  who  were  taken  away  six  hundred  have  al- 
ready died,  and  the  rest  must  inevitably  perish.  They 
have  no  rights  and  no  redress,  unless  they  resort  to  the 
requital  of  the  savage  and  avenge  the  insult  by  the  blood 
of  the  injured  race.  A  woman  of  unquestioned  chastity 


LIFE   OF   QENEEAL   SHERIDAN.  47 

was  killed  within  a  rod  of  the  speaker's  mission  house, 
and  when  the  agent  was  appealed  to  he  shrugged  his 
shoulders  and  said  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  it.  She 
died,  the  victim  of  violence  ;  but  she  was  an  Indian,  and 
no  "notice  was  taken  of  it. 

"  The  Indians,  whenever  appealed  to,  gladly  received 
the  religion  of  Jesus  ;  and  the  converted  red  men,  at  the 
risk  of  their  lives,  protected  the  whites  in  the  recent  war. 
The  chief  of  one  of  the  civilized  tribes  delivered  two  hun- 
dred white  captives  to  Governor  Sibley.  The  Sioux 
treaty  was  framed  in  fraud  and  deception.  The  chiefs 
were  deceived  in  reference  to  its  provisions,  and  when 
they  refused  to  sign  it,  immense  sums  of  money  were  ex- 
pended to  bribe  the  chieftains  to  sign  it ;  and  after  they 
received  the  money  they  were  intoxicated,  and  the  money 
stolen  from  their  blankets.  The  treaty  stipulated  for  the 
payment  of  large  sums  of  money  to  the  Sioux,  reserving 
only  seventy  thousand  dollars  to  pay  the  honest  debts  of 
the  Indians.  These  honest  debts  were  the  claims  of  dis- 
honest and  rapacious  traders,  and  yet  four  years  after  the 
treaty  no  money  had  been  paid  to  the  Indians.  The  with- 
holding of  this  annuity  money  led  to  the  fearful  massacre 
on  the  border  that  followed.  And  after  the  massacre,  the 
incidents  are  on  record  and  can  be  proved  that  Indiana 
who  never  saw  a  white  man  during  the  massacre  were 
hung,  and  Indians  who  were  acquitted  were  hung  before 
their  release  could  be  effected.  There  is  no  justice  for 


iS  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

the  red  man  from  the  time  he  meets  the  white  man  until 
he  sinks  into  the  grave. 

"  The  Christian  Indians  had,  at  the  time  of  the  mas- 
sacre, land  producing  crops  valued  at  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  Now  they  not  only  have  had 
these  all  destroyed,  but  they  have  been  removed  to  the 
Upper  Missouri  and  surrounded  by  hostile  Indians,  and 
where  the  soil  is  too  poor  for  cultivation,  and  where  the 
habits  of  their  civilized  life  have  unfitted  them  for  the 
hunting  of  the  buffalo  and  subsistence  by  the  fruits  of  the 
chase." 

And  I  have  heard  the  white^  refined,  and  devout  chief 
of  the  Cherokees,  John  Ross,  relate  by  the  hour  the  cruel 
outrages  of  those  who  have  compelled  his  tribe  to  leave 
the  lands  which  had  been  ceded  them,  and  the  graves  of 
their  fathers.  See  how  Georgia,  whose  soil  was  not  only 
wet  with  the  sweat  and  blood  of  slave-toil,  but  which  was 
preeminent  in  the  abuse  of  the  red  race,  has  been  swept 
by  the  fires  of  war,  and  her  fairest  gardens  laid  waste  by 
its  iron  hoofs  and  wheels. 

Lieutenant  Sheridan  had  ere  long  to  try  his  prowess 
with  the  Apache  warriors.  One  day  he  was  outside  the 
fort  with  two  others,  when  a  band  of  those  savages  sud- 
denly sprang  upon  them.  The  chief,  not  dreaming  of  re- 
sistance from  three  men  amid  several  times  their  number, 
leaped  from  his  "  fiery  mustang "  to  seize  his  prisoners. 
In  an  instant  Sheridan  was  on  the  back  of  the  wild 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  49 

charger  and  galloping  away  to  Fort  Duncan.  He  sum- 
moned the  troops  to  arms,  seized  his  pistols  without  dis- 
mounting, and  hastened  back  like  a  flying  warrior  to  the 
aid  of  the  two  companions  who  were  heroically  fighting 
for  life.  Dashing  up  to  the  enraged  chief  he  levelled  a 
pistol  at  his  head — "  crack  !  "  went  the  little  weapon,  and, 
with  a  mad  leap  into  the  air,  the  Indian  fell  dead  at  the 
feet  of  the  lieutenant's  horse.  The  soldiers  that  followed 
him  then  came  up,  and  the  just  now  exulting  band  was 
ridden  down  and  most  of  the  number  killed.  The  valiant 
deed,  however,  won  no  commendation  from  the  command- 
ant of  the  fort,  who  seemed  to  have  a  southern  prejudice 
against  the  eastern  and  western  boy.  The  irritated,  jealous 
officer  charged  his  lieutenant  with  breach  of  discipline  be- 
cause he  was  away  from  his  command.  That  commander 
has  been  a  rebel  general  in  the  late  civil  war. 

For  two  years  Sheridan  was  thus  employed  in  the  de- 
fence of  the  Southern  frontier  ;  at  one  time  leading  a  com- 
pany of  soldiers  to  a  threatened  settlement,  and  at  another 
cautiously  making  explorations,  not  knowing  where  the 
stealthy  savage  would  rise  from  ambush,  or  fire  his  wea- 
pon from  its  unknown  seclusion.  But  the  unfortunate 
displeasure  of  his  superior  officer,  and  the  collisions  at- 
tending, induced  Sheridan  to  seek  a  different  post  of  duty. 
Accordingly  the  War  Department,  in  the  spring  of  1855, 
created  him  full  lieutenant  in  the  Fourth  Infantry,  then 
in  Oregon.  Leaving  Fort  Duncan,  he  reached  New  York, 
3 


50  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

intending  to  sail  immediately  for  the  Pacific  coast.  But 
recruits  were  wanting,  and  while  waiting  for  them  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  Fort  Wood,  in  New  York 
harbor.  The  harbor  is  twenty-five  miles  in  circumference. 
Its  entrance  from  the  sea  is  over  the  bar  at  Sandy  Hook, 
where  the  water  is  more  than  twenty  feet  deep.  This 
highway  for  ships  of  the  largest  size  is  between  Staten 
Island  on  the  west  and  Long  Island  on  the  east,  is  called 
the  Narrows,  and  is  one-third  of  a  mile  wide  and  guarded 
by  strong  fortifications.  Governor's  Island,  Bedlqe's  and 
Ellis'  Islands,  near  the  city,  have  also  formidable  bat- 
teries. 

It  was  a  time  of  peace  when  Lieutenant  Sheridan 
was  at  Fort  Wood,  and  between  his  visits  to  the  city  and 
round  of  duties  there,  the  weeks  went  rapidlj  away. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

Lieutenant  Sheridan  sails  for  San  Francisco— Immediately  joins  an  Expedition 
into  the  Interior— He  goes  to  the  Tokima  Country— Adventures— Battle  at 
the  Cascades. 

July,  1855,  Lieutenant  Sheridan's  troops  were 
ready  to  move,  and  he  sailed  with  them  for  Cali- 
fornia. He  had  scarcely  touched  the  Pacific  coast 
before  he  was  chosen  to  command  an  escort  for 
Lieutenant  Williamson's  expedition  to  a  branch  of 
the  Columbia,  whose  object  it  was  to  survey  the  proposed 
route  of  a  branch  railroad  of  the  great  Pacific  Railway, 
connecting  San  Francisco  with  the  Columbia  River.  The 
map  will  show  you  the  long  distance  and  wild  country 
before  the  band  of  surveyors  and  their  military  escort. 

All  that  vast  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  is 
grand  and  wonderful.  The  Columbia  River  and  its  trib- 
utaries sweep  through  primeval  forests,  among  which  the 
fir  rises  sometimes  to  the  height  of  three  hundred  feet — 
tall,  graceful,  and  evergreen.  The  streams  are  limpid, 
and  abound  in  fish.  The  mountains  rise  in  solemn  gran- 


52  LIFE   OF   GESTEBAL   SHEEIDAN. 

deur,  rugged  with  granite  sides  and  pinnacles.  Beneath 
their  shadow  repose  charming  valleys,  rich  in  verdure 
and  bloom.  The  climate  is  milder  than  upon  the  eastern 
side  of  the  summits  stretching  across  the  Western  States 
and  territories.  In  these  valleys  and  along  the  slopes 
above  them  are  scattered  Indian  tribes,  many  of  them 
justly  jealous  of  their  white  visitors  and  the  settlers  on 
the  coast  and  frontier  of  the  States.  It  was  a  portion 
of  this  vast  region  that  the  company  led  by  Sheridan 
traversed.  By  day  observations  were  taken,  surveys 
made,  and  notes  written  in  the  hand-books  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  toilsome  work  was  interrupted  by  romantic 
and  exciting  scenes.  The  perilous  crossing  of  the  swift 
streams,  the  wild  game^  the  magnificent  views  of  nature, 
all  gave  an  exciting  and  pleasing  variety  to  the  inci- 
dents of  travel  through  the  wilderness.  And  noble 
and  beautiful  birds  were  seen  and  heard  in  the  great 
solitude. 

A  traveller  furnishes  from  his  note-book  the  record  of 
a  day's  adventure  in  this  primitive  land  of  the  "West : 

"  In  the  uncertain  gloom  my  horse  floundered  into 
stony  hollows,  or,  lost  in  the  mazes  of  the  oaks,  startled 
the  buzzards  and  mountain  vultures  from  their  roost. 
The  boughs  rustled,  and  the  air  was  stirred  by  the  muffled 
beat  of  their  wings.  I  could  see  them,  like  unearthly, 
boding  shapes,  as  they  swooped  between  me  and  the 
stars.  At  last,  making  a  hazard  at  the  direction  in  which 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  53 

the  trail  ran,  I  set  my  course  by  the  stars  and  pushed 
steadily  forward  in  a  straight  line. 

"  Two  hours  of  this  dreary  travel  passed  away  ;  the 
moon  rose,  lighting  up  the  loneliness  of  the  wide  plain, 
and  the  dim,  silvery  sweep  of  mountains  around  it  I 
found  myself  on  the  verge  of  a  steep  bank,  which  I  took 
to  be  an  arroyo  we  had  crossed  on  the  outward  journey. 
Getting  down  with  some  difficulty,  I  rode  for  more  than 
a  mile  over  the  flinty  bed  of  a  lake,  long  since  dried  up 
by  the  summer  heats.  At  its  opposite  side  I  plunged  into 
a  ghostly  wrood,  echoing  with  the  dismal  howl  of  the 
wolves,  and  finally  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountains. 
The  deep-sunken  glen,  at  whose  entrance  I  stood,  had  no 
familiar  feature  ;  the  tall  clumps  of  chaparral  in  its  bot- 
tom seemed  fit  haunts  for  grizzly  bears  ;  and  after  follow- 
ing it  for  a  short  distance,  I  turned  about  and  urged  my 
horse  directly  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  mountain. 

"  It  was  now  midnight,  as  near  as  I  could  judge  by 
the  moon,  and  I  determined  to  go  no  further.  I  had 
neither  fire-arms,  matches,  nor  blankets — all  my  equip- 
ments having  gone  on  with  the  pack-mule — and  it  was. 
necessary  to  choose  a  place  where  I  could  be  secure  from 
the  bears,  the  only  animal  to  be  feared.  The  very  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain  seemed  to  be  the  safest  spot ;  there 
was  a  single  tree  upon  it,  but  the  sides,  for  some  distance 
below,  were  bare,  and  if  a  '  grizzly '  should  come  up  one 
side,  I  could  dash  down  the  other.  Clambering  to  the 


54:  LIFE   OF    GENEKAL    SHEKLDAN. 

top  I  tied  my  horse  to  the  tree,  took  the  saddle  for  a  pil- 
low, and  coiling  into  the  smallest  possible  compass,  tried 
to  cover  myself  with  a  square  yard  of  saddle-blanket.  It 
was  too  cold  to  sleep,  and  I  lay  for  three  hours  with 
aching  bones  and  chattering  teeth,  looking  down  on  the 
vast  mysterious  depths  of  the  landscape  below  me.  I 
shall  never  forget  the  shadowy  level  of  the  plain,  whose 
belts  and  spots  of  timber  were  like  clouds  in  the  wan 
light — the  black  mountain-gulfs  on  either  hand,  which  the 
incessant  yells  of  a  thousand  wolves  made  seem  like  pan- 
demonium— the  far,  faint  shapes  of  the  distant  ranges, 
which  the  moonshine  covered  as  with  silver  gossamer, 
and  the  spangled  arch  overhead,  doubly  lustrous  in  the 
thin  air.  Once  or  twice  I  fell  into  a  doze,  to  dream  of 
slipping  off  precipices  and  into  icy  chasms,  and  was  roused 
by  the  snort  of  my  horse,  as  he  stood  with  raised  ears, 
stretching  the  lariat  to  its  full  length. 

"  When  the  morning  star,  which  was  never  so  wel- 
come, brought  the  daylight  in  its  wake,  I  saddled  and 
rode  down  to  the  plain.  Taking  a  course  due  north,  I 
started  off  on  a  gallop,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  recovered 
the  trail.  I  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  the  beautiful 
meadow  where  the  party  was  to  have  camped,  but  there 
was  no  trace  of  them  to  be  seen ;  the  mules,  as  it  hap- 
pened, were  picketed  behind  some  timber,  and  the  men, 
not  yet  arisen,  were  buried  out  of  sight  in  the  Vank  grass. 
I  rode  up  to  some  milpas  (brush-huts)  inhabited  by  Indians, 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  55 

aud  for  two  reals  obtained  a  boiled  ear  of  corn  and  a  melon, 
which  somewhat  relieved  my  chill,  hungry  condition." 

The  escort  and  the  engineers  at  length  reached  the 
goal  of  their  wearisome  march  safely,  having  done  well 
all  that  was  assigned  to  them  before  they  entered  the 
forest.  In  his  report  to  the  Government,  which  was  pub- 
lished by  Congress,  Lieutenant  Williamson  spoke  in  the 
highest  terms  of  the  able  command  of  Sheridan.  A  glimpse 
of  the  history  of  this  immense  northwestern  country,  which 
was  called  Oregon,  but  now  divided  into  several  terri- 
tories, and  which  has  been  'the  field  of  military  duty  to 
several  of  the  generals  who  have  figured  conspicuously  in 
the  civil  war,  will  lend  interest  to  the  narrative  of  Sheri- 
dan's faithful  service  there- 
Twenty  years  before  the  Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth, 
D'Aguilar,  commanding  an  expedition  under  Philip  III. 
of  Spain,  discovered  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  but  his 
story  of  discovery  was  treated  by  his  countrymen  as  a 
fable ;  the  darkness  of  profound  mystery  shrouded  the 
lands  it  watered  for  two  hundred  years. 

In  1776,  while  our  fathers  were  fighting  for  liberty, 
an  English  adventurer,  Captain  Cook,  explored  the  coast, 
and  Great  Britain  then  claimed  the  vast  territory.  The 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  established  small  trading  posts 
across  its  solitudes. 

In  1791  Captain  Vancouver  made  further  discoveries, 
and  others  followed  him.  With  our  Independence  the 


56  LIFE   OF  GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

spirit  of  enterprise  went  forth  afresh,  and  our  "  merchant 
princes  "  of  that  period  sent  forth  their  ships  on  errands 
of  discovery.  May  7, 1792,  Capt.  Robert  Gray  threw  the 
first  shadow  of  American  canvas  upon  the  majestic  river 
from  the  masts  of  the  good  ship  Columbia,  which  gave  to 
the  waters  its  name.  Next  came  the  untiring  and  self- 
denying  Lewis  and  Clark,  sent  out  under  Jefferson's  Ad- 
ministration in  August,  1805,  to  explore  overland  the 
region  beyond  the  mountains.  They  pushed  on  amid 
perils  and  deprivations  nearly  equal  to  those  our  fore- 
fathers experienced,  through'  the  immense  wilderness  be- 
tween the  States  and  the  lofty  heights  that  separate  the 
Atlantic  from  the  Pacific  slope,  until  they  reached  the 
head  waters  of  the  Columbia.  Then  on  its  strange,  wild, 
solitary  waters,  they  glided  down  six  hundred  miles  tow- 
ard its  mouth.  Afterwards  they  reached  the  ocean,  and 
returned  to  the  United  States  in  1806.  A  dozen  years 
later  arose  the  boundary  question  between  England  and 
America.  The  present  limits  of  our  territory,  49°  north 
latitude,  was  at  last  agreed  upon,  June  16,  1846. 

In  the  early  autumn  of  1855  Lieutenant  Sheridan 
was  at  Fort  Vancouver,  Washington  Territory.  Here 
Major  Rains,  since  a  general  in  the  rebel  army,  planned 
an  expedition  against  the  Yokima  (or,  as  it  is  also  spell- 
ed, Yokima)  Indians,  who  were  troublesome  to  our  peo« 
pie,  and  secured  Lieutenant  Sheridan's  services.  The 
danger  of  the  enterprise  just  suited  the  energy  and  entb'J 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  57 

siasm  of  the  young  officer.  Turn  to  the  map  again,  and 
you  will  find  Fort  Vancouver,  so  named  after  the  cele- 
brated captain  and  discoverer,  on  the  Columbia  River, 
not  far  from  Columbia  City,  and  Yokima  River  north 
of  it,  flowing  southeasterly  into  that  Father  of  western 
waters.  The  vigilance  and  promptness  necessary  in 
those  Indian  campaigns  cannot  be  imagined  by  one  who 
has  known  only  ordinary  warfare.  The  cunning  of  the 
foe,  the  forest  hiding-places,  the  unsparing  ferocity  of 
many  tribes,  make  self-command,  clear  eyed  watchful- 
ness, and  rapidity  of  action,  indispensable.  In  such  quali- 
ties Sheridan  excelled,  and  was,  therefore,  successful 
during  the  months  of  marching  and  skirmishing  which 
followed.  April  28,  1856,  occurred  one  of  the  severest 
encounters  of  the  troops  at  the  Cascades,  on  the  Columbia, 
not  very  far  from  Fort  Vancouver.  The  savages  fought 
bravely,  and  Lieutenant  Sheridan  displayed  that  dashing 
and  fearless  courage  which  has  so  distinguished  him  in 
his  more  recent  and  splendid  achievements.  His  gal- 
lantry attracted  the  special  notice  of  his  superior  officer, 
and  was  mentioned  flatteringly  in  general  orders.  The 
savages  were  defeated,  and  the  threatened  outbreak  soon 
entirely  suppressed.  Not  only  for  his  bravery,  but  his 
kindly  intercourse,  was  Sheridan  admired  by  the  Indians, 
and  gained  a  powerful  influence  over  them,  unlike  many 
officers,  who  have  left  only  scorn  and  hate  behind  them 
upon  the  quick  and  unforgetful  minds  of  the  Aborigines. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


A.  new  Command—  Creates  a  Military  Post—  At  Tokima  Bay—  General  Scott's 
Commendation—  The  "Wilderness  Warfare—  Its  Discipline—  The  Rebellion- 
Sheridan  made  Captain  —  Eepairs  to  St.  Louis  —  New  Duties  —  Quarter- 
master—A Staff  Officer's  estimate  of  Him—  The  Battle  of  Pea  Kidge—  Cap 
tain  Sheridan  and  General  Curtis  disagree—  The  reason—  The  result. 


44  ^)NDIAN  Reservation  !  "  What  a  sad  story  of  a 
fading  race  is  this  historical  expression  !  In 
the  East  and  South,  this  last  refuge  of  the  red 
man  has  been  taken  from  him  by  the  hands  of 
the  "  pale  face,"  until  only  a  few  acres  are  left 
in  his  possession.  At  Gayhead,  on  Martha's  Vineyard, 
Massachusetts,  and  in  Sandwich,  at  Oneida,  and  neai 
Buffalo,  New  York,  christianized  remnants  are  found, 
which  are  disappearing  gradually,  as  all  tribes  vanish 
before  the  civilization  and  aggressive  enterprise  of  the 
whites. 

To  the  Yokimas,  after  their  submission  to  Major 
Rains,  was  given  a  beautiful  valley  in  the  coast  range  of 
mountains,  to  be  the  "  Yokima  Reservation,"  and  share, 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  59 

before  the  future  tide  of  emigration  rolling  in  upon  the 
Pacific  shores,  the  fate  of  all  similar  compromises  with  a 
doomed  people.  Lieutenant  Sheridan  was  appointed  to 
the  command  of  this  Indian  domain,  and  won  the  confi- 
dence of  his  wild  subjects,  administering  their  affairs  to 
their  satisfaction  and  that  of  the  Government.  Lieutenant- 
General  Scott  made  special  mention  of  his  meritorious 
conduct  in  the  settlement  of  difficulties  with  .the  turbulent 
Yokimas.  During  that  same  year,  1857,  he  created  a 
new  military  post  at  Yamhill,  southwest  of  Fort  Van- 
couver. Then  followed  three  years  of  incessant  marches, 
skirmishing,  and  forest  encampment  among  the  Indians 
of  the  mountains.  There  you  might  have  seen  the  brave 
lieutenant  scaling  rugged  and  gloomy  heights,  to  look 
away  for  the  smoke  of  a  wigwam  and  upon  a  landscape 
of  the  wildest  grandeur,  and  such  as  can  be  seen  only  in 
the  primeval  regions  of  the  mighty  West.  Again,  he 
he  was  plunging  into  a  deep  and  silent  ravine,  overhung 
with  ancient  boughs,  which  admitted  no  more  than  stray 
beams  of  the  sun.  The  next  hour  he  hears  the  crack  of 
the  rifle,  soon  succeeded  by  a  "  brush  "  with  the  lurking 
savages.  But  the  saddest  part  of  the  adventurous  life, 
was*  the  deprivation  not  unfrequently  endured  by  the 
troops.  See  our  lieutenant  carrying  his  entire  stock  of 
provisions  for  fourteen  days  in  his  blanket,  which  was  at- 
tached to  his  shoulders,  occasionally  indulging  in  a  bit  of 
his  coarse  fare,  until  the  last  morsel  is  gone.  And  now 


60  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

look  at  the  spry,  elastic,  toughened  western  boy,  chasing— 
what?  Can  you  guess  ?  He  is  after  the  grasshoppers 
that  sprinkle  thickly  the  "  opening,"  to  meet  the  demands 
of  hunger.  Thus  for  days  together  the  uncomplaining, 
courageous  lieutenant  marches  on,  sleeping  at  night  be- 
neath the  massive  foliage,  through  which  the  moon  and 
stars  faintly  shone  upon  his  bronzed  face,  in  sound,  re- 
freshing repose.  While  thus  employed  for  the  country  he 
devotedly  loved,  the  slaveholders'  rebellion  awoke  the 
people  with  the  clarion  of  war.  Our  army  ranks  wore 
thinned  by  the  resignations  of  those  who  preferred  the 
fortunes  of  the  southern  army,  leaving  many  vacancies  in 
the  command.  Our  hero,  thoroughly  disciplined  for  the 
hardest  service,  quick  to  discern  what  should  be  done, 
and  fearless  of  danger,  was  one  of  the  men  providen- 
tially prepared  for  the  coming  years  of  national  conflict. 
With  the  commission  of  first  lieutenant,  he  repaired,  ac- 
cording to  orders,  to  the  arena  of  opening  strife.  The 
immediate  increase  of  the  regular  army  prepared  the  way 
for  his  further  promotion,  and  he  was  made  captain,  May 
14,  of  the  Thirteenth  regiment  of  regular  infantry.  The 
civil  conflict  began  with  the  battle  of  Manassas  in 
awful  earnest,  followed  by  the  lull  of  preparation  for  a 
long  and  deadly  grapple  of  southern  hate  with  northern 
loyalty. 

Captain  Sheridan  was  waiting  active  duty,  when,  a 
few  weeks  later,  he  was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  at 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  61 

Jefferson  Barracks,  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Scarcely  had 
he  reached  his  post  in  the  early  autumn  of  1861,  when 
he  was  appointed  President  of  the  Board  selected »to  audit 
the  claims  which  arose  under  the  administration  of  Gen- 
eral Fremont  in  the  West,  a  practical  business  affair,  in 
which  he  maintained  his  characteristic  urbanity,  and  show- 
ed ability  for  any  service.  This  official  position  was  follow- 
ed by  a  call  to  more  difficult  responsibilities.  He  was  ap- 
pointed chief  quartermaster  and  commissary  of  the  army 
forming  at  the  moment  for  operations  in  Southwestern 
Missouri.  Of  his  entrance  upon  the  wider  field  of  action, 
and  his  appearance  then,  an  admiring  staff  officer  writes : 

u  A  modest,  quiet  little  man  was  our  quartermaster. 
Yet  nobody  could  deny  the  vitalizing  energy  and  masterly 
force  of  his  presence,  when  he  had  occasion  to  exert  him- 
self. Neat  in  person,  courteous  in  demeanor,  exact  in 
the  transaction  of  business,  and  most  accurate  in  all  mat- 
ters appertaining  to  the  regulations,  orders,  and  general 
military  custom,  it  was  no  wonder  that  our  acting  chief 
quartermaster  should  have  been  universally  liked.  Espe- 
cially was  he  in  favor  socially,  for  it  soon  became  known 
that  he  was,  off  duty,  a  most  genial  companion,  answer- 
ing the  most  mythical  requirement  of  that  vaguest  of  com- 
prehensive terms — c  a  good  fellow.' 

"  We  were  assembling  at  Lebanon,  Missouri,  in  the 
months  of  November  and  December,  1861,  and,  under 
the  designation  of  the  4  Army  of  the  Southwest/  were 


62  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

4 

about  to  inaugurate  an  active  campaign.  It  was  a  mark- 
ed gathering.  A  majority  of  those  who  used  to  gather 
at  headquarters  still  aid  to  make  glorious  the  nationa1 
history.  The  battle-fields  and  victories  of  Keetsville, 
Pea  Ridge,  Sugar  Creek,  Cross  Hollows,  and  many  an- 
other conflict  in  that  splendid  march  through  northern 
and  central  Arkansas,  have  made  the  Army  of  the  South- 
west renowned. 

ki  The  historic  names  which  memory  recalls  are  many. 
They  have  since  become  as  '  familiar  as  household  words.' 
Among  these  officers,  and  others  as  gallant  and  gay,  our 
quartermaster,  Captain  Phillip  Henry  Sheridan,  made 
his  bow  one  fine  day  in  December,  when,  in  obedience 
to  orders  from  Major-General  Halleck,  he  reported  at 
Lebanon  for  assignment  by  General  Curtis  to  duty  as 
chief  quartermaster  of  the  Army  of  the  Southwest. 
Sheridan  was  quite  unknown  to  fame,  though  nine  and  a 
half  years  of  arduous  service  in  the  regular  army  had 
given  him  a  title  to  a  more  brilliant  field  than  the  one  to 
which  he  was  then  assigned.  To  General  Halleck  is  due 
the  credit  of  earliest  foreseeing  and  calling  out  the  great 
powers  of  Sheridan — qualities  which  make  his  name  a 
synonym  for  all  that  is  daring  in  execution ;  all  that  is 
superb  in  that  tremendous  dash  and  elan  by  which  alone 
can  a  cavalry  commander  grandly  succeed;  all  that  is 
heroic  in  the  power,  not  only  of  holding  on  grimly  when 
the  tide  of  battle  ebbs  and  flows  most  doubtingly,  but  also 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    8HEKIDAN.  63 

to  see  how  '  from  the  nettle  danger,  to  pluck  the  flower 
safety.1 

"  What  forms  such  a  character  is  noteworthy.  Gen- 
eral Sheridan's  experiences  and  characteristics  are  emi- 
nently American,  and  fitly  and  typically  prelude  his 
career.  Not  often  talking  of  himself,  he  yet  told  enough 
to  make  one  see  how  his  character  was  crystallized. 
Every  incident  will  serve  in  making  up  the  analysis,  and 
will  indicate  qualities  upon  a  general  view  of  which  we 
arrive  at  a  synthetical  estimate.  Such  lives  as  Sheri- 
dan's, history  treasures  as  types,  and  embalms  them  as 
examples. 

"  We  have  said  Captain  Sheridan  was  modest.  In 
those  days  he  was  especially  so.  Whenever  he  did  allow 
his  ambition  to  appear,  it  appeared  to  be  of  a  moderate 
cast.  '  He  was  the  sixty-fourth  captain  on  the  list,  and 
with  the  chances  of  war,  thought  he  might  soon  be  major/ 
Such  were  the  terms  in  which  the  future  major-general 
spoke  of  promotion.  No  visions  of  brilliant  stars,  single 
or  dual,  then  glimmered  on  the  horizon  of  his  life.  If  he 
could  pluck  an  old  leaf  and  gild  the  same  for  his  shoulder's 
wear,  he  was  satisfied.  If  any  one  had  suggested  the 
possibility  of  a  brigadiership,  our  quartermaster  would 
have  supposed  it  meant  in  irony.  Yet  he  was  even  then 
recognized  as  a  man  of  vigorous  character. 

"The  enlisted  men  on  duty  at  headquarters,  or  in 
his  own  bureau,  remember  him  kindly.  Not  a  clerk  or 


64  LIFE   OF  GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

orderly  but  treasures  some  act  of  kindness  done 
tain  Sheridan.  Never  forgetting,  or  allowing  others  to 
forget,  the  respect  due  to  him  and  his  position,  he  was 
yet  the  most  approachable  officer  at  headquarters.  His 
knowledge  of  the  regulations  and  customs  of  the  army, 
and  of  all  professional  minutiaB,  were  ever  at  the  disposal 
of  any  proper  inquirer.  Private  soldiers  are  seldom  al- 
lowed to  carry  away  as  pleasant  and  kmdly  associations 
of  a  superior,  as  those  with  which  Captain  Sheridan  en- 
dowed us.  When  the  army  was  ready  to  move,  he  gave 
his  personal  attention  in  seeing  that  all  attached  to  head- 
quarters were  properly  equipped  for  service  in  the  field, 
issuing  the  necessary  stores,  animals,  etc.,  without  diffi- 
culty or  discussion.  Many  a  man  received  information 
about  the  preparation  of  papers,  and  other  matters,  which 
has  since  been  of  invaluable  assistance.  Nor  was  his 
kindness  confined  to  subordinates  alone.  It  is  easy  for 
some  men  to  be  genial  and  kind  to  those  under  them, 
while  it  seems  impossible  to  behave  with  the  proper 
courtesy  due  to  those  whose  position  entitles  them  to  con 
sideration  as  gentlemen.  We  have  served  with  a  major 
general  since  then,  who  to  his  soldiers  was  always  for- 
bearing, kindly,  and  humane  ;  while  to  his  officers,  espe- 
cially those  on  the  staff,  he  was  almost  invariably  rude, 
rough,  blunt,  and  inconsiderate.  This  could  not  be  said 
of  Sheridan.  He  had  that  proper  pride  of  military  life, 
which  not  alone  demands,  but  accords  to  all  the  courtesy 


LIFE  OF   GENERAL   8HEKIDAN.  65 

due  among  gentlemen.  It  is  fair  to  say  that  no  man  has 
risen  more  rapidly  with  less  jealousy ;  if  the  feelings  enter- 
tained  by  his  old  associates  of  the  Army  of  the  South- 
west are  any  criterion, 

"  Sheridan's  modesty  amounted  to  bashfulness,  espe- 
cially in  the  presence  of  the  gentler  sex.  His  life, 
having  been  passed  on  the  frontier,  among  Indians  or  at 
some  solitary  post,  it  was  not  at  all  surprising  that  our 
quartermaster  should  hesitate  when  urged  to  go  where 
ladies  might  be  expected.  If  by  chance  he  found  himself 
in  such  a  gathering,  he  was  sure  to  shrink  into  an  obscure 
corner  and  keep  silent.  We  remember  an  amusing  in- 
cident of  this  bashfulness. 

"  He  became  attracted  toward  a  young  lady  at  Spring 
field,  where  he  was  engaged  in  forwarding  supplies  to  the 
army.  Desirous  of  showing  her  some  attention,  he  was 
altogether  too  modest  to  venture  on  such  a  step.  Finally 
he  hit  upon  an  expedient.  He  had  a  gay  young  clerk, 
Eddy,  in  his  office,  whom  he  induced  to  take  the  young 
lady  out  riding,  while  he  (Sheridan)  furnished  the  car- 
riage and  horses.  The  modest  little  captain  could  often  be 
seen  looking  with  pleasure  on  this  arrangement.  Courting 
by  proxy  seemed  to  please  him  as  much  (as  it  certainly 
was  less  embarrassing)  as  if  it  had  been  done  by  himself. 
There  are  but  few  men  whose  modesty  would  carry  them 
eo  far.  What  the  result  was  we  never  learnt.  We  think 
it  most  probable  Eddy  carried  off  the  prize. 


66  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEE1DAN. 

"  The  labors  of  Captain  Sheridan  as  quartermaster 
were  very  arduous ;  in  addition  to  which  he  had  the 
general  superintendence  of  the  Subsistence  Department. 
Every  thing  needed  organizing.  Though  nine  months  of 
war  had  passed,  few  yet  realized  the  stupendous  char- 
acter of  the  struggle,  or  the  magnitude  of  the  preparations 
needed  to  meet  it.  Even  our  quartermaster  fell  within 
the  criticism  of  not  fully  comprehending  the  wants  of  an 
army  no  larger  than  the  one  General  Curtis  commanded. 
Yet  what  was  done,  and  there  was  a  great  deal  of  it,  was 
thoroughly  done.  His  transportation  and  trains  were  or- 
ganized. Depots  were  established  at  Rolla  and  Spring- 
field, and  a  large  amount  of  supplies  accumulated. 
While  the  army  was  moving  to  Pea  Ridge,  it  was  main- 
ly supplied  with  stores  obtained  from  the  surrounding 
country.  In  one  respect,  as  quartermaster,  Sheridan  was 
a  model.  He  cut  down  the  regimental  trains  to  the  low- 
est margin  then  conceived  possible,  and  in  so  doing  won 
the  cordial  opposition  of  most  regimental  officers.  Each 
regiment  had  at  the  time  a  train  larger  than  that  now  ap- 
portioned by  general  orders  to  a  corps.  The  wagons 
were  often  of  all  sizes  and  character,  from  the  regula- 
tion six-muler,  to  the  lumbering  farm-wagon  or  spring- 
cart,  pressed  from  the  neighborhood.  Sheridan  changed 
all  this,  and  compelled  the  turning  over  of  all  superfluous 
transportation  for  use  in  the  general  army  train." 

The  movements  of  General  Curtis  in  Missouri  against 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  67 

General  Price  involved,  incidentally,  Captaii,  Sheridan  in 
a  collision  with  that  officer.  The  winter-cold,  and  ex- 
hausting marches  of  our  troops,  had  wasted  the  supply 
of  stock ;  and  with  a  battle  in  prospect,  General  Curtis 
must  have  animals  from  the  country  at  a  distance,  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  army.  He  therefore  ordered  Quarter- 
master Sheridan  to  secure  them  in  the  region  around  him, 
give  the  owners  vouchers,  and  send  the  supplies  at  once. 

Just  then  the  Illinois  cavalry  had  committed  some 
depredations  which  displeased  Sheridan ;  and,  belonging 
to  the  conservative  loyal  party,  he  was  in  no  mood  to  obey 
cheerfully  a  command  to  lay  violent  hands  on  the  property 
of  our  "  erring  southern  brethren."  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  the  western  soldier  had  much  to  learn  of  the  true 
character  of  the  war,  in  common  with  a  great  number  of 
heroic  defenders  of  the  flag.  He  wrote  a  spirited  letter 
to  General  Curtis,  which  was  unnoticed  at  the  time,  be- 
cause a  terrible  struggle  was  at  hand  for  the  control  of 
a  State. 

March  6th,  1862,  General  Curtis  met  General  Price 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  Arkansas,  near  White  River. 
The  region  is  called  Pea  Ridge,  because  it  was  said 
peas  only  would  grow  there.  The  quartermaster  was  at 
Springfield,  Missouri,  from  which  the  rebels  had  retreated 
u  until  they  received  their  expected  reinforcements  at 
some  point  in  the  Boston  range  of  mountains,  near  the 
northwestern  boundary  of  Arkansas  ;  and  along  with  this, 


63  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

the  pursuit  by  the  National  forces  under  Curtis  and  Sigel, 
extending,  as  to  time,  from  the  opening  of  February — the 
day  when  Colonel  Carr's  cavalry  started  from  Springfield 
—until  the  memorable  6th,  when  Colonel  Ellis  first,  and 
General  Sigel  afterwards,  met  the  enemy  and  gave  battle. 
The  combat  was  often  hand  to  hand.  Horsemen  were 
dismounted  and  struggled  with  the  infantry,  while  the 
officers  were  sometimes  seen  defending  themselves  against 
the  advancing  bayonets  of  the  common  soldiers.  Strange 
Sigel  was  not  killed.  He  was  well  known  to  the  rebels, 
and  a  hundred  rifles  sought  in  vain  to  end  his  career. 
The  balls  whistled  about  his  head,  but  none  touched  him, 
though  one  carried  away  his  spectacles,  and  a  second 
pierced  his  cap.  Sigel' s  loss  in  the  entire  march,  it  was 
estimated,  would  reach  sixty  killed  and  two  hundred 
wounded.  Many  of  the  wounded  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy. 

"  In  the  main  camp  of  the  army  every  thing  was 
bustle  and  commotion.  Coffee,  bread,  and  meat  were 
prepared  and  sent  out,  with  blankets  and  overcoats,  for 
the  comfort  of  those  who  had  so  nobly  fought  during  the 
day,  and  were  intending  to  renew  the  conflict  at  dawn. 
General  Sigel  and  Colonel  Davis  had  returned,  and  were 
making  all  preparation  to  throw  their  whole  force  to  the 
aid  of  Colonel  Carr.  The  teams  were  still  attached  to 
the  wagons,  and  the  braying  of  the  mules — never  melodi- 
ous— became  doubly  dismal  and  discordant.  The  poor 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  69 

animals  had  been  without  food  for  forty-eight  hours,  and 
without  water  for  twenty-four  hours.  They  had  been 
standing  in  harness  since  daybreak,  and  their  usually 
hoarse  tones  gradually  softened  to  a  low  plaintive  moan 
that  was  painful  to  hear.  Most  of  the  officers  were  fear- 
ful of  the  results  of  the  conflict  on  the  morrow.  We  had 
suffered  severely ;  the  enemy  outnumbered  us,  and  was 
fighting  desperately.  We  had  gained  no  advantage  over 
him,  but  had  simply  succeeded  in  repelling  his  attacks. 
Our  communication  with  Springfield  was  cut  off,  and  our 
messengers  falling  into  his  hands.  Among  the  soldiers, 
as  they  sat  by  the  camp  fires,  there  was  generally  but  on* 
expression :  '  We  must  fight  like  heroes  or  surrender  to 
the  rebels.  There  is  no  falling  safely  back,  as  there  wa° 
at  Wilson  Creek.  Our  only  alternative  is  desperate  fight- 
ing, and  we  will  all  do  our  best/  Many  of  them  sent 
farewell  messages  to  the  loved  ones  at  home.  Around 
headquarters  most  of  the  commanders  passed  a  sleepless 
night.  General  Sigel  brought  his  division  into  camp, 
where  it  was  ready  at  call,  and  then  calmly  lay  down  to 
sleep.  Colonel  Davis  moved  his  command  at  midnight, 
and  anxiously  waited  the  coming  light.  The  commander  • 
in-chief  was  hopeful,  but  fearful.  Colonel  Dodge  and 
Colonel  Vandever  sent  in  for  a  fresh  supply  of  ammu- 
nition, and  about  midnight  visited  the  camp  in  person  to 
swallow  a  sup  of  coffee  and  return  to  the  field.  Ambu- 
lances were  in  constant  motion,  bringing  in  the  wounded. 


70  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

In  the  action  of  the  day  the  Iowa  regiments  had  suffered 
fearfully.  Nearly  two  hundred  each  had  been  the  loss  of 
the  Iowa  Fourth  and  Ninth,  and  the  latter  had  not  a  sin- 
gle field  officer  fit  for  duty.  Its  colonel  was  commanding 
a  brigade,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Herron  was  made 
prisoner  while  gallantly  cheering  his  men,  after  losing  a 
horse  and  receiving  a  severe  wound,  and  its  major  and 
adjutant  were  disabled  and  in  the  hospital.  Still  none  of 
the  men  were  despondent,  but  were  all  ready  for  the  work 
of  the  morrow.  From  the  camp  of  a  German  regiment, 
the  notes  of  some  plaintive  air  was  wafted  on  the  breeze 
in  words  unintelligible  to  my  ear. 

"  An  hour  or  niore  was  spent  in  contesting  the  pos- 
session of  the  spot  on  Mr.  Cox's  farm,  when  the  enemy 
fell  back  to  the  hollow.  .  A  pause  ensued,  when  the  right, 
under  General  Davis,  moved  along,  and  after  a  sharp  fight 
of  half  an  hour,  in  which  the  rebel  General  Mclntosh  was 
killed,  the  enemy  beat  a  retreat  to  Cross  Timber  Hollow. 
The  whole  line  was  then  ordered  forward.  The  rebels 
attempted  to  make  a  stand  on  the  next  hill,  but  our  artil- 
lery played  upon  them  with  disastrous  effect.  The  enemy 
on  the  road  near  the  tavern  refused  to  be  moved.  Gen* 
eral  Asboth,  with  a  large  column  of  cavalry,  was  sent 
round  to  outflank  them,  when  another  desperate  conflict 
ensued  between  our  cavalry  and  the  Texas  and  Louisiana 
troops.  The  Indians  also  took  part  in  it;  but  beyond 
their  shrieks  and  yells  their  influence  was  not  felt.  Gen- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  71 

eral  Asboth  received  a  wound  in  the  arm  while  at  the 
head  of  his  men. 

"  And  now  our  batteries  on  (he  right  were  ordered  to 
the  front.  Taking  a  position  within  five  hundred  yards, 
they  poured  in  an  incessant  shower  of  grape,  canister,  and 
shell,  for  twenty  minutes.  A  general  bayonet  charge  was 
then  ordered,  and  our  whole  line  rushed  down  the  valley 
and  ascended  the  opposite  hill.  A  cheer  went  up  from 
our  men  as  they  delivered  volley  after  volley  into  the  ene- 
my's ranks.  The  rebels  cheered  also,  and  it  was  evident 
that  they  were  twice  our  number  from  the  noise  they 
made. 

"  General  Sigel  was  carrying  every  thing  before  him 
on  the  extreme  left.  It  was  clear  that  the  foe  was  run- 
ning, and  our  men  catching  the  inspiration  of  the  moment 
rushed  on  in  pursuit,  and  before  one  o'clock  the  rout  was 
complete.  To  the  westward  of  *Pea  Ridge  there  was  a 
wide  strip  of  timber  which  had  been  blown  down  by  a 
tremendous  hurricane  the  previous  summer.  Across  this 
swath  of  uprooted  trees,  which  were  larger  and  denser 
in  the  low  lands,  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  artillery  at- 
tempted to  retreat,  and  were  mercilessly  pelted  with  shell. 
Their  panic  was  overwhelming,  and  their  defeat  decided. 
They  had  risked  every  thing  in  the  attempt  to  destroy  us, 
and  lost  every  thing  in  the  failure.  Muskets,  clothing, 
and  shot  guns  were  strewn  along  the  woods.  Horses 
roamed  about  in  droves.  The  cries  of  the  cavalrymen 


72  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

and  the  yells  of  the  Indians,  with  the  groans  of  w;  >unded, 
surpassed  all  description.  Caissons  overturned,  wagons 
broken  down,  and  horses  dying  and  dead,  strewed  the 
whole  road.  After  following  the  main  body  of  the  rebels 
for  ten  miles,  Sigel  returned." 

Such  were  a  few  of  the  scenes  of  the  bloody  three 
days*  fight  for  Missouri — a  great  but  costly  victory.  For 
the  first  time,  I  believe,  in  the  war,  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife  had  been  used  on  our  brave  boys.  General 
Curtis  wrote  an  indignant  letter  to  General  Price,  pro- 
testing against  the  u  savage  warfare."  His  next  cor- 
respondence was  with  the  quartermaster  at  Springfield, 
relieving  him  from  command,  and  ordering  him  to  St. 
Louis  under  arrest,  for  his  "saucy"  letter  to  the  victo- 
rious general. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Captain  in  a  new  Enterprise  TOT  the  Army — Quartei  master  again  »t 
Corinth— Enters  the  Cavalry  Service— The  Past  and  Present  of  the  Cavalry 
—Crossing  Kivers— The  War-horse. 

[E  unpleasant  affair  was  soon  settled,  and  Sher- 
idan was  sent  to  Wisconsin  to  buy  horses  for 
the  army.  The  accomplishment  of  this  object 
was  followed  by  his  appointment  to  the  post  of 
Chief  Quartermaster  of  the  department  under 
General  Halleck,  who  was  then  before  Corinth.  In  the 
momentous  work  of  that  campaign  his  duties  were  per- 
formed with  greater  ability  than  before,  because  his  expe- 
rience had  been,  in  a  few  months,  equal  to  that  of  ordi- 
nary years,  in  the  management  of  the  resources  of  vast 
armies.  Nothing  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department 
was  wanting  to  aid  in  the  great  contest. 

Beauregard  was  prepared  for  the  expected  encounter 
at  Corinth.  After  a  council  at  General  Halleck's  head- 
quarters, May  llth,  the  advance  began.  And  now  the 
vast  host  moved  in  all  the  grandeur  of  fully  equipped  and 


74:  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

resolute  legions,  toward  a  foe  impatient  to  dispute  the  on 
ward  march  to  their  stronghold. 

May  17th  the  first  shock  came.  The  Fifth  Division 
of  General  Grant's  army,  under  Sherman,  met  the  rebels 
in  a  severe  conflict  on  the  road  to  Corinth.  They  had  to 
fall  back  before  the  human  tide,  crested  with  fire  and 
steel,  that  beat  in  successive  waves  upon  their  opposing 
battle  front.  This  victory  is  inscribed  on  the  banner 
of  the  splendid  division  who  won  it,  "  Russell's  Court 
House  " — a  spot  crimsoned  with  the  blood  with  which  it 
was  purchased.  The  brief  contest  only  opened  the  way 
to  the  fortress  of  rebel  strength.  And  the  question  was, 
How  shall  Corinth  be  taken  ?  It  must  either  be  by  direct 
and  bloody  assault,  or  by  siege — surrounding  it,  and  com- 
pelling the  imprisoned  army  to  surrender. 

Beauregard  watched  with  sleepless  vigilance  his  foe- 
He  ordered  troops  to  intrench  on  a  ridge  near  Phillip's 
Creek,  and  oppose  the  Union  forces.  General  Davis, 
of  General  Grant's  army,  approached  the  works ;  then, 
feigning  a  retreat,  drew  the  garrison  out,  when  a  severe 
struggle  ensued,  routing  the  enemy  completely.  This  oo 
'curred  May  21st ;  and  on  the  27th  General  Sherman  also 
had  a  fight  with  the  rebels. 

Through  all  the  days  of  skirmishing,  pitched  battle, 
and  marching,  the  parallels  or  long  lines  of  our  brave 
men  had  pushed  the  front  nearer  and  nearer  to  Corinth, 
May  28th,  Gen.  Grant  pressed  up  in  force  to  within  gun- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  75 

shot  of  the  fortifications,  to  ascertain  the  posture  and 
power  of  the  enemy.  He  was  resisted,  but  the  rebels 
were  obliged  to  yield. 

"  The  line  of  the  works  was  selected,  and,  at  the  word 
of  command,  three  thousand  men  with  axes,  spades,  and 
picks,  stepped  out  into  the  open  field  from  their  cover  in 
the  woods.  In  almost  as  short  a  time  as  it  takes  to  tell 
it,  the  fence  rails  which  surrounded  and  divided  three 
hundred  acres  into  convenient  farm  lots,  were  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  men,  and  on  the  way  to  the  intended 
line  of  works.  In  a  few  moments  more  a  long  line  of 
cribwork  stretches  over  the  slope  of  the  hill,  as  if  another 
anaconda  fold  had  been  twisted  around  the  rebels.  Then, 
as,  for  a  time,  the  ditches  deepen,  the  cribs  fill  up,  the  dirt 
is  packed  on  the  outer  side,  the  bushes  and  all  points  of 
concealment  are  cleared  from  the  front,  and  the  centre 
divisions  of  our  army  had  taken  a  long  stride  toward  the 
rebel  works.  The  siege  guns  are  brought  up  and  placed 
in  commanding  positions.  A  log  house  furnishes  the 
hewn  and  seasoned  timber  for  the  platiorms,  and  the 
plantation  of  a  Southern  lord  has  been  thus  speedily 
transformed  into  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  strongholds,  where 
the  Stars  and  Stripes  float  proudly.  Thus  had  the  whole 
army  (under  the  immediate  charge  of  General  Grant,  the 
commander  in  the  field)  worked  itself  up  into  the  very  teeth 
of  the  rebel  works,  and  rested  there  on  Thursday  night, 
the  28th,  expecting  a  general  engagement  at  any  moment. 


76  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  Soon  after  daylight  on  Friday  morning,  the  army 
was  startled  by  rapid  and  long-continued  explosions,  sim- 
ilar to  musketry,  but  much  louder.  The  conviction  flashed 
across  my  mind  that  the  rebels  were  blowing  up  their 
loose  ammunition,  and  leaving.  The  dense  smoke  arising 
in  the  direction  of  Corinth  strengthened  this  belief,  and 
soon  the  whole  army  was  advancing  on  a  grand  recon- 
noissance.  The  distance  through  the  woods  was  short, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  shouts  arose  from  the  rebel  lines, 
which  told  that  our  army  was  in  the  enemy's  trenches. 
Regiment  after  regiment  pressed  on,  and  passing  through 
extensive  camps  just  vacated,  soon  reached  Corinth,  and 
found  half  of  it  in  flames.  Beauregard  and  Bragg  had 
left  the  afternoon  before,  and  the  rear-guard  had  passed 
out  of  the  town  before  daylight,  leaving  enough  stragglers 
to  commit  many  acts  of  vandalism  at  the  expense  of  pri- 
vate property.  They  burned  churches  and  other  public 
buildings,  private  goods,  stores,  and  dwellings,  and  choked 
up  half  the  wells  in  town.  In  the  camps  immediately 
around  the  town  there  were  few  evidences  of  hasty  re- 
treat ;  but  on  the  right  flank,  where  Price  and  Van  Dorn 
were  encamped,  the  destruction  of  baggage  and  stores 
was  very  great,  showing  precipitate  flight.  Portions  of 
our  army  were  immediately  put  in  pursuit." 

While  thus  attending  to  the  wants  of  the  army  in  its 
siege,  the  demand  for  commanders  in  the  cavalry  to  push 
its  operations  around  Corinth,  turned  the  attention  of  su- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  77 

officers  to  Sheridan.  In  the  midst  of  the  struggle, 
May  27th,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Second 
regiment  of  Michigan  cavalry,  and  at  once  engaged  in 
the  raiding  south  of  Corinth,  to  cut  off  retreat  if  the 
rebels  were  compelled  to  fly  from  their  stronghold.  Col- 
onel Sheridan  was  now  'fc  the  right  man  in  the  right  place  " 
— in  his  field  of  highest  possible  success.  This  brings  us 
to  that  interesting  and  romantic  department  of  military 
activity  and  achievements,  the  Cavalry. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  W.  Tolles,  assistant-quarter- 
master, has  afforded  us  a  very  pleasant  view  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  troopers,  and  the  way  of  crossing  streams  on 
the  march  : 

"  Cavalry  !  At  this  word  whose  mind  does  not  invol- 
untarily recall  pictures  of  mailed  knights  rushing  upon 
each  other  with  levelled  lances,  and  of  the  charging  squad- 
rons of  Austerlitz,  of  Jena,  of  Marengo,  of  the  Peninsula, 
and  of  Waterloo?  Whose  blood  is  not  stirred  with  a 
throng  of  memories  connected  with  the  noble  achievements 
of  the  war-horse  and  his  rider?  Who  does  not  imagine 
a  panorama  of  all  that  is  gay  and  glorious  in  warfare — 
prancing  coursers,  gilded  trappings,  burnished  sabres, 
waving  pennons,  and  glittering  helmets — rank  after  rank 
of  gallant  riders — anon  the  blast  of  bugles,  the  drawing 
of  sabres,  the  mighty  rushing  of  a  thousand  steeds,  the 
clash  of  steel,  the  shout,  the  victory  ?  The  chief  romance 
of  war  attaches  itself  to  the  deeds  accomplished  by  the 


78  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHEEIDAN. 

assistance  of  the  power  and  endurance  of  man's  noblest 
servant.  Every  one  has  read  so  much  poetry  about  val- 
iant youths,  mounted  on  fiery  yet  docile  steeds,  doing  deeds 
of  miraculous  prowess  in  the  ranks  of  their  enemies — our 
literature  is  so  full  of  tapestried  representations  of  knightly 
retinues  and  charging  squadrons — the  towering  form  of 
Murat  is  so  conspicuous  in  the  narratives  of  the  Napo- 
leonic wars,  and  history  has  so  often  repeated  the  deeds 
of  those  horsemen  who  performed  such  illustrious  feats  in 
the  combats  of  half  a  century  ago,  that  we  associate  with 
the  cavalry  only  ideas  of  splendor  and  glory,  of  wild  free- 
dom and  dashing  gallantry.  But  the  cavalry  service  is 
far  different  from  such  vague  and  fanciful  imaginations. 
Instead  of  ease,  there  is  constant  labor ;  instead  of  free- 
dom, there  is  a  difficult  system  of  discipline  and  tactics  ; 
and  instead  of  frequent  opportunities  for  glorious  charges, 
there  is  a  constant  routine  of  toilsome  duty  in  scouting 
and  picketing,  with  rarely  an  opportunity  for  assisting 
prominently  in  the  decision  of  a  great  battle,  or  of  win- 
ning renown  in  overthrowing  the  ranks  of  an  enemy  by 
the  impetuous  rush  of  a  mass  of  horses  against  serried 
bayonets. 

"  In  many  respects  cavalry  is  the  most  difficult  branch 
of  military  service  to  maintain  and  to  operate.  It  is  ex- 
ceedingly costly,  on  account  of  the  great  loss  of  horses  by 
the  carelessness  of  the  men,  by  overwork,  by  disease,  and 
by  the  fatalities  of  battle.  The  report  of  General  Hal- 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  79 

leek,  for  the  year  1863,  stated  that  from  May  to  October 
there  were  from  ten  to  fourteen  thousand  cavalry  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  while  the  number  of  horses  fur- 
nished them  for  the  same  period  was  thirty-five  thousand  ; 
adding  to  these  the  horses  taken  by  capture  and  used  for 
mounting  men,  the  number  would  be  sufficient  to  give 
each  man  a  horse  every  two  months.  There  were  two 
hundred  and  twenty-three  regiments  of  cavalry  in.  the 
service,  which,  at  the  same  rate,  would  require  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  thousand  horses.  This  is  an  immense 
expenditure  of  animals,  and  is  attributable  in  part  to  the 
peculiarities  of  the  volunteer  service — such  as  the  lack 
of  care  and  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  officers,  and  the 
disposition  of  the  men  to  break  down  their  horses  by  im- 
proper riding,  and  sometimes  out  of  mere  wantonness,  for 
the  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  animals  they  do  not  like,  for 
the  chance  of  obtaining  better.  A  measure  has  recently 
been  adopted  to  remedy  these  evils,  by  putting  into  the 
infantry  cavalry  officers,  and  men  who  show  themselves 
incompetent  to  take  proper  care  of  their  animals,  and  who 
neglect  other  essentials  of  cavalry  service.  The  provision 
and  transportation  of  forage  for  cavalry  horses  also  con- 
stitute items  of  great  cost. 

"  To  attain  proficiency  and  effectiveness,  cavalry  sol- 
diers require  much  longer  instruction  than  those  of  any 
other  arm.  They  must  become  expert  swordsmen,  and 
acquire  such  skill  in  equitation  that  horse  and  rider  shaU 


80  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

resemble  the  mythical  centaurs  of  the  ancients — shall  be 
only  one  individual  in  will.  The  horses  should  be  as 
thoroughly  trained  as  the  riders.  In  European  armies 
this  is  accomplished  in  training  schools.  The  govern 
ments  keep  constantly  on  hand  large  supplies  of  animals, 
partly  purchased  and  partly  produced  in  public  stables, 
and  capable  instructors  are  continually  employed  in  fitting 
both  men  and  horses  for  their  duties. 

"  To  insure  the  provision  of  proper  horses  and  to  re- 
cuperate those  which  are  sent  from  the  army  disabled  or 
sick,  an  immense  cavalry  depot  has  been  established  at 
Giesboro',  near  Washington.  Thousands  of  horses  were 
kept  there  ready  for  service,  and  as  fast  as  men  in  the 
army  were  dismounted  by  the  loss  of  their  animals,  they 
were  sent  to  this  depot.  It  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
best-arranged  affairs  connected  with  our  service,  and  has 
greatly  assisted  in  diminishing  the  expense  attending  the 
provision  of  animals,  and  in  increasing  the  efficiency  of 
our  cavalry. 

"  We  have  had  all  the  difficulties  to  contend  with  re- 
sulting from  inexperienced  riders  and  untrained  horses. 
No  one  who  has  not  beheld  the  scene  can  imagine  the 
awkward  appearance  of  a  troop  of  recruits  mounted  on 
horses  unaccustomed  to  the  saddle.  The  sight  is  one  of 
the  most  laughable  that  can  be  witnessed.  We  have  seen 
the  attempt  made  to  put  such  a  troop  into  a  gallop  across 
a  field.  Fifty  horses  and  fifty  men  instantly  became 


LIFE   OX    GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  81 

actuated  by  a  hundreJ  different  wills,  and  dispersed  in  all 
directions — some  of  the  riders  hanging  on  to  the  pommels, 
with  their  feet  out  of  the  stirrups,  others  tugging  away  at 
the  bridles,  and  not  a  few  sprawling  on  the  ground.  After 
a  few  months'  drills,  however,  a  different  scene  is  pre- 
sented, and  an  old  troop  horse  becomes  so  habituated  to  his 
exercises,  that  not  only  will  he  perform  all  the  evolutions 
without  guidance,  but  will  even  refuse  to  leave  the  ranks, 
though  under  the  most  vigorous  incitements  of  whip  and 
spur.  An  officer  friend  was  once  acting  as  cavalier  to  a 
party  of  ladies  on  horseback  at  a  review,  when,  unfor- 
tunately, the  troop  in  which  his  horse  belonged  happening 
to  pass  by,  the  animal  bolted  from  the  group  of  ladies, 
and  took  his  accustomed  place  in  the  ranks,  nor  could  all 
the  efforts  of  his  rider  disengage  him.  Finally,  our  friend 
was  obliged  to  dismount,  and,  holding  the  horse  by  the 
bit,  lack  him  out  of  the  troop  to  his  station  with  the 
party  of  ladies — a  feat  performed  amid  much  provoking 
laughter. 

"  Cavalry  can  operate  in  masses  only  when  circum- 
stances are  favorable — the  country  open,  and  the  ground 
free  from  obstructions.  Yet  it  is  in  masses  alone  that  it 
can  be  effective,  and  it  can  triumph  against  infantry  only 
by  a  shock — from  the  precipitation  of  its  weight  upon  the 
lines,  crushing  them  by  the  onset.  Before  the  time  of 
Frederic  the  Great,  the  Prussian  horsemen  resembled 
those  to  be  seen  at  a  militia  review — they  were  a  sort  of 
6 


82  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL 


picture  soldiers,  incapable  of  a  vigorous  charge.  He  rev- 
olutionized the  service  by  teaching  that  cavalry  must 
achieve  success  by  a  rapid  onset,  not  stopping  to  fire  them- 
selves, and  not  regarding  the  fire  of  their  opponents.  By 
practising  these  lessons,  they  were  able  to  overthrow  the 
Austrian  infantry.  But  if  the  force  of  a  charge  is  dissi- 
pated by  obstructions  on  the  ground,  or  is  broken  by  the 
fire  of  the  assailed,  the  effectiveness  of  cavalry,  as  a  par- 
ticipant in  the  manoeuvres  of  the  battle-field,  is  entirely 
destroyed. 

"  The  question  of  the  future  of  cavalry  is  at  present 
one  of  great  interest  among  military  investigators  ;  for 
notwithstanding  its  brilliant  achievements  during  our  civil 
war,  the  fact  is  apparent  that  its  sphere  has  been  entirely 
changed,  its  old  system  has  become  obsolete,  and  former 
possibilities  no  longer  lie  within  its  scope.  Since  Water- 
loo there  had  not  been,  until  our  war  commenced,  any 
opportunity  to  test  the  action  of  cavalry  ;  for  its  operations 
in  the  Crimea  and  in  Italy  were  insignificant.  The  art  of 
warfare  had,  meanwhile,  in  many  respects,  become  revo- 
lutionized by  the  introduction  of  rifled  arms.  Military 
men  waited,  therefore,  with  interest,  the  experience  of  the 
war  in  this  country,  to  judge  from  it  as  to  the  part  cavalry 
was  to  perform  in  future  warfare.  That  experience  has 
shown  that  the  day  in  which  cavalry  can  successfully 
charge  squares  of  infantry  has  passed.  When  the  smooth- 
bore muskets  alone  were  used  by  infantry,  cavalry  could 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  83 

be  formed  in  masses  for  charging  at  a  distance  of  five 
hundred  yards  ;  now  the  formations  must  be  made  at  the 
distance  of  nearly  a  mile,  and  that  intervening  space  must 
be  passed  at  speed  under  the  constant  fire  of  cannon  and 
rifles ;  when  the  squares  are  reached,  the  horses  are 
frightened  and  blown,  the  ranks  have  been  disordered  by 
the  impossibility  of  preserving  a  correct  front  during  such 
a  length  of  time  at  rapid  speed,  and  by  the  loss  of  men ; 
the  charge  breaks  weakly  on  the  wall  of  bayonets,  and 
retires  baffled.  Infantry,  before  it  learns  its  own  strength 
and  the  difficulty  of  forcing  a  horse  against  a  bayonet — 
or  rather  to  trample  down  a  man — has  an  absurd  and  un- 
founded fear  of  cavalry.  This  feeling  was  in  part  the 
cause  of  the  panic  among  our  troops  at  Bull  Run ;  so 
much  had  been  said  about  the  Black  Horse  troop  of  the 
rebels.  The  Waterloo  achievements  of  the  French  were 
then  thought  possible  of  repetition.  Nowadays  it  is 
hardly  probable  that  the  veteran  infantry  of  either  army 
would  take  the  trouble  to  form  squares  to  resist  cavalry, 
but  would  expect  to  rout  it  by  firing  in  line.  Neither 
p^rty  in  our  war  has  been  able  to  make  its  mounted  forces 
effective  in  a  general  battle.  Nothing  has  occurred  to 
parallel,  upon  the  battle-field,  those  exploits  of  the  cavalry 
— French,  Prussian,  and  English — in  the  great  wars  of 
the  last  century,  extending  to  Waterloo. 

u  The  enthusiastic  admirers  of  cavalry  still  maintain 
that  it  is  possible  to  repeat  those  exploits,  even  in  face 


84  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

of  the  improved  firearms  now  in  use.  All  that  is  neces- 
sary, they  say,  is  to  have  the  cavalry  sufficiently  drilled. 
The  ground  to  be  crossed  under  a  positively  dangerous 
fire  is  only  five  hundred  or  six  hundred  yards  ;  and  once 
taught  to  continue  the  charge  through  the  bullets  for  this 
distance,  and  then  to  throw  themselves  on  the  bayonets, 
horsemen  will  now,  as  heretofore,  break  the  lines  of  infan- 
try. All  very  true,  if  cavalry  to  fulfil  the  conditions 
named  can  be  obtained ;  but  in  them  lies  the  difficulty. 
Occasional  instances  of  splendid  charges  will  undoubtedly 
occur  in  future  warfare  ;  but  it  seems  to  be  an  established 
fact  that  the  day  for  the  glory  of  cavalry  has  passed. 
Once  the  mailed  knight,  mounted  on  his  mailed  charger, 
could  overthrow  by  scores  the  poor,  pusillanimous  pike- 
men  and  crossbow  men  who  composed  the  infantry ;  he 
was  invulnerable  in  his  iron  armor,  and  could  ride  them 
down  like  reeds.  But  gunpowder  and  the  bayonet  have 
changed  this  ;  and  now  the  most  confident  and  domineer- 
ing cavalryman  will  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  fly  at  a 
gallop,  if  he  sees  the  muzzle  of  an  infantryman's  rifle 
with  its  glittering  bayonet,  pointed  at  him  from  the 
thicket. 

u  Another  revolution  effected  in  the  mounted  service 
by  the  improvements  in  arms  and  the  consequent  changes 
of  tactics,  is  the  diminution  of  heavy  and  the  increase  of 
light  cavalry  ;  that  is,  the  transfer  of  the  former  into  the 
latter.  These  two  denominations  really  include  all  kinds 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  85 

of  cavalry,  although  the  non-military  reader  may  have 
been  puzzled  by  the  numerous  subordinate  denominations 
to  be  found  in  the  accounts  of  European  warfare — such 
as  dragoons,  cuirassiers,  hussars,  lancers,  chasseurs,  hu- 
lans,  etc. 

"  Heavy  cavalry  is  composed  of  the  heavier  men  and 
horses,  and  is  usually  divided  into  dragoons  and  cuirassiers. 
It  is  designed  to  act  in  masses,  and  to  break  the  lines  of 
an  enemy  by  the  weight  of  its  charge.  Usually,  also,  it 
has  had  some  defensive  armor,  and  is  a  direct  descendant 
from  the  knights  of  the  Middle  Ages.  But  the  cuirasses, 
which  were  sufficient  to  resist  the  balls  from  smooth-bore 
muskets,  are  easily  penetrated  by  rifles.  Consequently 
the  occupation  of  this  kind  of  cavalry  is  gone,  and  it  is 
likely  to  disappear  gradually  from  the  service.  In  this 
country  we  have  never  had  any  thing  except  light  cavalry 
— the  only  kind  adapted  for  use  in  our  Indian  warfare. 
This  kind  of  cavalry  is  intended  to  accomplish  results  by 
the  celerity  of  its  movements,  and  all  its  equipments 
should  therefore  be  as  light  as  possible.  The  chief  diffi- 
culty is  to  prevent  the  cavalry  soldier  from  overloading 
his  horse,  as  he  has  a  propensity  not  only  to  carry  a  large 
wardrobe  and  a  full  supply  of  kitchen  utensils,  but  also 
to  '  convey,'  in  the  language  of  Pistol,  or,  in  army  lan- 
guage, '  gobble-up,'  or  in  plain  English,  steal  any  thing 
that  is  capable  of  being  fastened  to  his  saddle. 

"  It  is  evident  that  the  efficiency  of  a  cavalry  soldiel 


86  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

depends  as  much  upon  his  horse  as  upon  himself  ;  and  it 
is  requisite,  therefore,  that  the  weight  upon  the  horse 
should  be  as  light  as  possible.  The  limit  has  been  fixed 
at  about  two  hundred  pounds  for  light,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  for  heavy  cavalry ;  but  both  of  these  are  too 
much.  A  cavalry  soldier  ought  not  to  weigh  over  one 
hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  and 
his  accoutrements  not  over  thirty  pounds  additional ;  but 
in  practice,  scarcely  any  horse — except  where  the  rider  is 
a  very  light  weight — carries  less  than  two  hundred  and 
twenty  or  two  hundred  and  thirty  pounds.  One  great 
cause  of  the  evils  incident  to  our  cavalry  service  is  the 
excessive  weight  imposed  on  the  horses.  The  French  take 
particular  pains  in  this  respect :  while  in  England  the 
cavalry  is  almost  entirely  '  heavy/  and,  though  well 
drilled,  is  clumsy.  John  Bull,  with  his  roast  beef  and 
plum  pudding,  makes  a  poor  specimen  of  a  light  cavalry- 
man. English  officers  are  now  endeavoring  to  revolution- 
ize their  mounted  service,  so  as  to  diminish  its  weight  and 
increase  its  celerity. 

"  The  arms  of  cavalry  have  been  various,  but  it  is 
now  well  settled  that  its  true  weapon  is  the  sabre,  as  its 
true  form  of  operation  is  the  charge.  A  great  deal  of 
ingenuity  has  been  expended  in  devising  the  best  form  of 
sabre.  Different  countries  have  different  patterns,  but  the 
one  adopted  in  our  army  is  very  highly  considered.  It 
is  pointed,  so  as  to  be  used  in  thrusting ;  sharp  on  one 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  87 

edge  for  cutting ;  curved,  so  as  to  inflict  a  deeper  wound ; 
and  the  weight  arranged  by  a  mathematical  rule,  so  that 
the  centres  of  percussion  and  of  gravity  are  placed  where 
the  weapon  may  be  most  easily  handled.  The  lance  is  % 
weapon  very  appropriate  to  light  mounted  troops,  and  is 
still  used  by  some  of  the  Cossacks  and  Arab  horsemen. 
But  to  wield  it  effectively  requires  protracted  training. 
For  a  long  time  in  Europe  it  was  the  chief  weapon  for 
horsemen  ;  with  the  knights  it  was  held  in  exclusive  honor, 
and  continued  in  use  for  a  considerable  period  after  fire- 
arms had  destroyed  the  prestige  of  the  gentlemen  of  the 
golden  spurs.  Prince  Maurice  of  Orange,  when  he  raised 
mounted  regiments  to  defend  the  Netherlands  against  the 
Spanish,  rejected  it,  and  since  his  time  it  has  become 
obsolete  except  in  some  regiments  especially  drilled  to  it. 
Such  a  regiment  was  raised  in  Philadelphia  at  the  com- 
mencement of  our  war,  but  after  eighteen  months'  expe- 
rience the  lances  were  abandoned.  Besides  the  sabre, 
cavalrymen  are  armed  with  pistols  or  carbines — the  men 
having  the  latter  being  employed  particularly  in  skirmish- 
ing, sometimes  on  foot. 

u  The  proportion  of  mounted  troops  in  an  army  varies 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  country  which  is  the  theatre 
of  military  operations.  In  a  level  country  it  should  be 
about  one-fourth  or  one-fifth,  while  in  one  that  is  moun- 
tainous, it  should  not  be  greater  than  a  tenth.  As  a  gen- 
eral rule,  improvements  in  firearms  have  produced  a 


88  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN. 

decrease  in  the  proportion  of  cavalry  and  lessened  its  im- 
portance. When  artillery  was  introduced,  the  cavaliers, 
who  composed  the  Middle  Age  armies  exclusively,  com- 
menced to  disappear  ;  knighthood  passed  out  of  existence, 
being  superseded  by  mercenary  bands.  Infantry  gradu- 
ally assumed  importance,  which  has  constantly  increased, 
until  it  has  now  attained  the  vast  predominance.  This 
has  not  only  caused  a  general  diminution  of  the  propor- 
tion of  cavalry,  but  has  entailed  on  the  governments  of 
Europe  the  necessity  of  keeping  their  cavalry  service  al- 
ways at  its  maximum,  so  that  the  mounted  troops  may  be 
perfect  in  their  drill ;  whereas  infantry  troops  can  acquire 
comparative  proficiency  in  a  few  months.  We  will  give 
a  brief  description  of  the  different  classes  of  cavalry,  and 
close  our  subject  by  some  remarks  on  the  operation  of 
this  arm  of  service  in  our  civil  war. 

"  The  regiments  raised  by  Prince  Maurice  of  Orange, 
above  referred  to,  were  the  first  known  as  cuirassiers,  on 
account  of  the  cuirasses  which  they  wore  for  defence. 
All  defensive  armor  is  now  being  laid  aside. 

"  Dragoons  originally  were  a  class  of  soldiers  who 
operated  both  on  foot  and  mounted.  They  are  supposed 
to  take  their  name  from  a  kind  of  firearm  called  a  '  dragon.' 
In  modern  practice  dragoons  are  almost  entirely  used  as 
cavalry,  and  rarely  have  recourse  to  any  extended  service 
on  foot.  The  denomination  l  dragoons '  has  recently  been 
abolished  from  our  service. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  89 

"  Carabineers  were  at  first  some  Basque  and  Gascoi 
horsemen  in  the  French  service,  whose  peculiarly  dis 
tinguishing  characteristic  was  a  skilful  use  in  the  saddle 
of  a  short  firearm. 

"  Hussars  originated  in  Hungary,  taking  their  de- 
nomination from  the  word  husz,  which  signifies  twenty, 
and  ar,  pay — every  twentieth  man  being  required  by 
the  State  to  enter  into  service.  From  their  origin  they 
were  distinguished  for  the  celerity  of  their  movements 
and  their  devotion  to  fine  costumes. 

"  The  hulans  were  a  species  of  Polish  light  cavalry, 
bearing  lances,  and  taking  their  name  from  their  com- 
mander— a  nobleman  named  Huland. 

"  Chasseurs  are  French  regiments,  designed  chiefly  to 
act  as  scouts  and  skirmishers.  The  chasseurs  d'Afrique 
are  cavalry  which  have  been  trained  in  Algeria,  and  have 
become  exceedingly  expert  through  conflicts  with  the 
Arabs.  The  spahis  are  Arab  cavalry  in  the  French  ser- 
vice, and  are  such  admirable  riders  that  they  will  charge 
over  all  kinds  of  ground,  and  dash  upon  a  foe  who  judges 
himself  secure  amid  rocks,  or  trees,  or  ditches. 

"  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  the  rebel  cavalry 
was  superior  to  that  furnished  by  the  North.  For  this 
there  were  many  reasons.  Southern  plantation  life  had 
accustomed  the  aristocratic  youth  to  the  saddle,  and  great 
attention  was  bestowed  on  the  training  of  horses.  At  the 
North  the  number  of  skilled  riders  was  comparatively  few. 


90  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

Gradually,  however,  northern  energy,  endurance,  and 
patient  discipline  began  to  tell,  and  the  time  soon  arrived 
when  the  Southern  cavalry  were  invariably  driven,  espe- 
cially in  sabre  charges,  to  which  Southerners  have  great 
aversion.  At  present,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  horses, 
the  difficulty  of  supplying  forage,  and  the  loss  of  so  many 
gay  youths  of  the  chivalry,  the  Southern  cavalry  has 
dwindled  into  such  a  condition  as  to  be  no  longer  formi- 
dable. 

"  The  services  of  the  cavalry  in  both  armies  during 
the  war  has  been  exclusively  as  light  cavalry — scouting, 
picketing,  raiding,  etc.  Its  combats  have  been  with 
forces  of  its  own  arm.  No  commander  has  yet  succeeded 
in  assisting  to  determine  the  issue  of  a  pitched  battle  by 
the  charges  of  his  mounted  troops.  Our  cavalry  have 
rendered,  however,  brilliant  and  invaluable  services  in 
protecting  the  rear  and  flanks  of  the  armies,  and  by  their 
magnificent  raiding  expeditions  into  the  enemy's  country, 
destroying  his  supplies,  injuring  his  communications,  di- 
verting his  forces,  and  liberating  his  slaves.  No  suffi- 
cient accounts  of  such  expeditions  and  of  the  numerous 
cavalry  conflicts  have  been  published ;  yet  they  are  very 
desirable.  They  would  furnish  most  interesting  narra- 
tives, and  be  a  valuable  contribution  not  only  to  the  his- 
tory of  tKe  times,  but  to  the  history  of  warfare  ;  for  the 
operations  of  the  cavalry  in  this  war  constitute  a  new  era 
in  the  history  of  this  branch  of  military  service.  Unless 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    8HEBIDAN.  91 

care  is  exercised  to  procure  such  narratives,  our  posterity 
will  never  know  any  thing  of  many  battle-fields  where 
fought  and  fell  brave  troopers  from  every  Northern 
State. 

"  The  chief  duties  of  officers  belonging  to  the  corps  of 
engineers,  when  connected  with  an  army  acting  in  t^ie 
field,  are  the  supervision  of  routes  of  communication,  the 
laying  of  bridges,  the  selection  of  positions  for  fortifica- 
tions, and  the  indication  of  the  proper  character  of  works 
to  be  constructed.  Should  a  siege  occur,  a  new  and  very 
important  class  of  duties  devolves  on  them,  relating  to  the 
trenches,  saps,  batteries,  etc. 

tc  Not  only  is  there  in  Virginia  a  lack  of  good  roads, 
but  the  numerous  streams  have  few  or  no  bridges.  In 
many  cases  where  bridges  have  existed,  one  or  the  other 
of  the  contending  armies  has  destroyed  them  to  impede 
the  march  of  its  opponents.  Streams  which  have  an 
average  depth  of  three  or  four  feet  are,  however,  generally 
without  bridges,  except  where  crossed  by  some  turnpike, 
the  common  country  roads,  mostly  leading  to  fords.  The 
famous  Bull  Run  is  an  example.  There  were  but  two  or 
three  bridges  over  this  stream  in  the  space  of  country 
penetrated  by  the  roads  generally  pursued  by  our  army 
in  advancing  or  retreating,  and  these  have  been  several 
times  destroyed  and  rebuilt.  The  stream  varies  from 
two  to  six  feet  in  depth — the  fords  being  at  places  of 
favorable  depth,  and  where  the  bottom  is  gravelly  and 


92  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SIIEKIDAN. 

the  banks  sloping.  Often  such  streams  as  this,  and  in- 
deed smaller  ones,  become  immensely  swelled  in  volume 
by  storms,  so  that  a  comparatively  insignificant  rivulet 
might  greatly  delay  the  march  of  an  army,  if  means  for 
quickly  crossing  should  not  be  provided.  The  general 
depth  of  a  ford  which  a  large  force,  with  its  appurte- 
nances, can  safely  cross,  is  about  three  feet,  and  even 
then  the  bottom  should  be  good  and  the  current  gentle. 
With  a  greater  depth  of  water,  the  men  are  likely  to  wet 
their  cartridge  boxes,  or  be  swept  off  their  feet.  There 
is  a  small  stream  about  three  miles  from  Alexandria, 
crossing  the  Little  River  turnpike,  which  has  never  been 
bridged,  and  which  was  once  so  suddenly  swollen  by  rain 
that  all  the  artillery  and  wagons  of  a  corps  were  obliged 
to  wait  about  twelve  hours  for  its  subsidence.  The  mules 
of  some  wagons  driven  into  it  were  swept  awav.  Fords, 
unless  of  the  best  bottom,  are  rendered  impassable  after  a 
small  portion  of  the  wagons  and  artillery  of  an  army  have 
crossed  them — the  gravel  being  cut  through  into  the  un- 
derlying clay,  and  the  banks  converted  into  sloughs  by 
the  dripping  of  water  from  the  animals  and  wheels. 

"  A  very  amusing  scene  was  presented  at  the  cross- 
ing of  Hazel  River  (a  branch  of  the  Rappahannock) 
when  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  first  marched  to  Culpep- 
per.  The  stream  was  at  least  three  feet  deep,  and  at 
various  places  four — the  current  very  rapid — the  bot- 
torn  filled  with  large  stones,  and  the  banks  steep,  except 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  93 

where  a  narrow  road  had  been  cut  for  the  wagons.  vThe 
men  adopted  various  expedients  for  crossing.  Some  went 
in  boldly  all  accoutred ;  some  took  off  shoes  and  stock- 
ings, and  carefully  rolled  up  their  trowsers  ;  others  (and 
they  were  the  wisest)  divested  themselves  of  all  their 
lower  clothing.  The  long  column  struggled  as  best  it 
could  through  the  water,  and  occasionally,  amid  vocifer- 
ous shouts,  those  who  had  been  careful  to  roll  up  their 
trowsers  would  step  into  a  hole  up  to  the  middle ;  others, 
who  had  taken  still  more  precautions,  would  stumble  over 
a  stone  and  pitch  headlong  into  the  roaring  waters,  drop- 
ping their  guns,  and  splashing  vainly  about  with  their 
heavy  knapsacks,  in  the  endeavor  to  regain  a  footing, 
until  some  of  their  comrades  righted  them ;  and  others, 
after  getting  over  safely,  would  slip  back  from  the  sandy 
bank,  and  take  an  involuntary  immersion.  Some  clung 
to  the  rear  of  the  wagons,  but  in  the  middle  of  the  stream 
the  mules  would  become  fractious,  or  the  wagon  would 
get  jammed  against  a  stone,  and  the  unfortunate  passen- 
gers were  compelled  to  drop  off  and  wade  ashore,  greeted 
by  roars  of  derisive  laughter.  On  such  occasions  soldiers 
give  full  play  to  their  humor.  They  accept  the  hardships 
with  good  nature,  and  make  the  best  of  any  ridiculous 
incident  that  may  happen.  At  the  time  referred  to  many 
conscripts  had  just  joined  the  ranks,  and  cries  resounded 
everywhere  among  the  old  soldiers  :  '  Hello,  conscripts, 
how  do  you  like  this  ? '  '  What  d'ye  think  of  sogering 


94  LIFE   OF   GENEEAL   SHERIDAN. 

now?'  'This  is  nothing.  You'll  have  to  go  in  up  to 
yer  neck  next  time.' 

"  Generally,  when  the  exigencies  of  the  march  will 
permit,  bridges  are  made  over  such  streams,  either  by 
the  engineers  of  the  army  or  detachments  from  the  vari- 
ous corps  which  are  passing  upon  the  roads.  They  are 
simple  '  corduroy  bridges/  and  can  be  laid  very  expedi- 
tiously.  Two  or  three  piers  of  stones  and  logs  are  placed 
in  the  stream,  string  pieces  are  stretched  upon  them,  and 
cross  pieces  of  small  round  logs  laid  down  for  the  floor- 
ing. The  most  extensive  bridges  of  this  kind  used  by  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  were  those  over  the  Chickahominy 
in  the  Peninsular  campaign.  c  Sumner's  bridge/  by 
which  reinforcements  crossed  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks, 
was  laid  in  this  manner.  Of  course  such  bridges  are 
liable  to  be  carried  away  and  to  be  easily  destroyed. 
Some  of  the  bridges  over  the  Chickahominy  were  laid 
much  more  thoroughly.  '  Cribs '  of  logs  were  piled  in 
cob-house  fashion,  pinned  together,  and  sunk  vertically  in 
the  stream.  Then  string  pieces  and  the  flooring  were 
laid,  the  whole  covered  with  brush  and  dirt.  Men  work- 
ed at  these  bridges  up  to  the  waist  in  water  for  many 
days  in  succession. 

"  Military  art  has  devised  many  expedients  for  bridg- 
ing streams,  and  use  is  made  of  any  facilities  that  may 
be  at  hand  for  constructing  the  means  of  passage ;  but 
the  only  organized  bridge  trains  which  move  with  the 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  95 

army  are  those  which  carry  the  pontoons.  Of  these 
there  are  various  kinds,  made  of  wood,  of  corrugated 
iron,  and  of  India-rubber  stretched  over  frames.  But 
the  wooden  pontoon  boats  are  most  in  use.  They  can  be 
placed  in  a  river  and  the  flooring  laid  upon  them  with 
great  rapidity.  Several  very  fine  bridges  have  been  thus 
constructed — among  them  may  be  mentioned  the  one  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Chickahominy,  across  which  General 
McClellan's  army  marched  in  retreating  from  Harrison's 
Landing.  It  was  about  a  mile  long,  and  was  constructed 
in  a  few  hours. 

u  To  cross  a  river  under  the  fire  of  an  enemy  is  one 
of  the  most  difficult  operations  in  warfare.  Yet  it  has 
been  frequently  accomplished  by  our  armies.  The  cross- 
ing of  the  Rappahannock  by  General  Burnside's  army, 
previous  to  the  great  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  the 
kind  during  the  war.  The  rebel  rifle-pits  lined  the  south- 
ern bank,  and  the  fire  from  them  prevented  our  engineers 
from  approaching — the  river  being  only  about  seventy- 
five  yards  wide.  For  a  long  time  our  artillery  failed  to 
drive  the  rebels  away.  About  noon  of  the  day  on  which 
the  crossing  was  made,  General  Burnside  ordered  a  con- 
centration  of  fire  on  Fredericksburg,  in  the  houses  of 
which  place  the  rebels  had  concealed  their  forces.  A 
hundred  guns,  hurling  shot  and  shell  into  every  buildirg 
and  street  of  the  city,  soon  riddled  it ;  but  the  obstinate 


96  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

roes  hid  themselves  in  the  cellars  till  the  storm  w&s  over, 
and  then  emerged  defiantly.  They  were  only  dislodged 
by  sending  over  a  battalion  in  boats  to  attack  them  in 
flank,  when  they  retreated,  and  the  bridges  were  laid." 

Some  of  the  rules  of  cavalry  marching,  beginning  with 
the  "  striking  of  the  tents,"  if  the  troops  have  them,  are 
the  following: 

"  Fifteen  minutes  after  the  first  call,  reveille  will  be 
sounded,  when  the  men  will  fall  in  for  roll-call.  Imme- 
diately after  roll-call  the  squadrons  will  be  marched  by 
their  first  sergeants  to  the  stables.  The  horses  will  then 
be  watered,  groomed,  and  fed. 

u  The  horses  having  been  attended  to,  the  men  will 
be  dismissed  and  allowed  to  get  breakfast. 

"Thirty  minutes  before  the  hour  appointed  for  start- 
ing, 'boots  and  saddle'  will  sound.  To  horse  will  be 
sounded  fifteen  minutes  thereafter,  when  the  men  will 
'lead  out'  and  the  roll  will  be  called.  First  sergeants 
report  the  result  to  their  squadron  commanders,  who  will 
have  the  same  report  sent  to  the  adjutant.  Squadron 
commanders  will  then  have  the  men  mount,  and  be  pre- 
pared to  mount  when  the  advance  sounds. 

u  After  marching  thirty  minutes,  the  command  will 
be  halted,  the  men  dismounted  and  required  to  adjust  the 
packs  and  tighten  the  girths.  Short  halts  should  be  made 
at  the  end  of  every  hour  ;  and  if  the  march  is  to  be  a  long 
one,  a  halt  of  an  hour  should  be  made  at  mid-day. 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  97 

"  The  horses  should  be  watered  at  least  once  during 
the  march. 

"  When  the  road  is  good,  a  trot  may  be  ordered.  No 
faster  gait  will  be  allowed  except  in  case  of  necessity. 

"  On  arriving  in  camp  the  troopers  will  unbridle,_  tie 
up  the  horses,  wipe  the  saddles  and  bridles,  sponge  the 
horses'  eyes  and  nostrils,  rub  the  head  with  a  whisp,  pick 
the  feet,  and  give  a  little  hay. 

"  After  an  interval  to  refresh  the  men,  stable-call 
will  be  sounded,  when  saddles  will  be  removed,  and  the 
horses  watered,  groomed,  and  fed.  On  removing  the 
saddles,  the  backs  must  be  examined,  and  any  sign  of 
galling  reported  immediately.  The  least  flinching  on  the 
part  of  the  animal  should  be  taken  notice  of,  and  be 
sufficient  cause  to  stop  him  from  work,  or  having  any 
thing  put  on  his  back.  Hot  poultices  should  be  applied 
instantly,  if  there  is  pain,  to  prevent  inflammation. 

"  At  no  time  should  the  slightest  deviation  from  dis- 
cipline be  allowed." 

And  here  I  must  notice  that  "  unarmed  hero,"  the 
war-horse.  You  recollect  the  inspired  description,  the 
best  ever  written.  The  Lord  of  all  inquires  of  Job : 
u  Hast  thou  given  the  horse  strength  ?  Hast  thou  clothed 
his  neck  with  thunder  ?  Canst  thou  make  him  afraid  as 
a  grasshopper  ?  The  glory  of  his  nostrils  is  terrible.  ***: 
paweth  in  the  valley,  and  rejoiceth  in  his  strength :  he 
goeth  on  to  meet  the  armed  men.  He  mocketh  at  fear. 


98  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

and  is  not  affrighted ;  neither  turneth  he  back  from  the 
sword.  The  quiver  rattleth  against  him,  the  glittering 
spear,  and  the  shield.  He  swalloweth  the  ground  in 
fierceness  and  rage :  neither  helieveth  he  that  it  is  the 
sound  of  the  trumpet.  He  saith  among  the  trumpets, 
Ha,  ha ;  and  he  smelleth  the  battle  afar  off,  the  thunder 
of  the  captains  and  the  shouting." 

A  friend,  who  is  a  captain  in  the  cavalry,  gave  me  a 
fine  account  of  the  sagacity  and  almost  human  attach- 
ment and  forethought  of  this  noble  animal,  as  he  ap- 
pears on  the  plains  of  war.  His  steed  was  a  mottled 
chestnut,  very  handsome  and  fleet,  captured  from  a 
Confederate  officer,  and  had  branded  on  his  shoulder,  in 
large  letters,  "  C.  S.",  i.  e.  Confederate  States.  When 
rapid  motion  brought  out  the  perspiration,  the  foam  would 
make  the  letters  very  distinct  at  a  great  distance,  so  that 

he  was  often  chased  by  troopers,  and  Capt.  B could 

only  escape  by  the  unrivalled  fleetness  of  the  horse. 
Having  been  in  the  service  of  both  sides,  the  animal 
knew  them  apart  as  quickly  as  his  rider.  When  he  dis- 
cerned any  of  the  rebels  afar,  he  would  grow  excited,  and 
paw  the  earth  ;  but  when  Union  troops  came  up,  his  ears 
and  whole  bearing  revealed  the  recognition  and  joy.  In 
skirmishing  he  would  fly  from  one  ambush  to  another, 
keeping  the  enemy  in  sight,  without  a  touch  from  the  rein. 
At  night  the  captain  sometimes  lay  awhile  between  his 
feet,  the  horse  as  careful  not  to  bruise  or  harm  as  a  hu- 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  99 

man  watcher  could  be.  Then,  saying  to  the  good  steed, 
with  a  snap  of  the  finger,  "  Go  and  feed,"  the  horse  would 
turn  away  and  eat  awhile,  then  return,  and  smell  of  his 
master  to  see  that  all  was  right.  When  satisfied,  he  went 
again  to  his  wild  pasture.  In  the  morning,  soon  as  the 
cavalryman  was  ready  to  mount,  this  splendid  creature 
would  settle  toward  the  earth,  to  lessen  the  distance  for 
the  spring  into  the  saddle  ;  and  when  the  word  was  given 
to  gallop,  with  apparent  delight  he  rushed  forward  to  the 
arena  of  conflict,  or  along  the  perilous  way.  One  day, 
while  scaling  a  stream  no  other  horse  ventured  to  cross 
without  a  bridge,  he  sank  into  the  quicksand  beyond, 
bringing  his  head  upon  the  surface  of  the  soil,  snapped 
his  neck,  quivered  a  moment,  and  was  dead.  The  cap- 
tain, bruised  but  safe,  dropped  a  tear  upon  his  courser, 
removed  the  trappings,  and  hurried  back  to  his  lines. 

It  is  not  strange  that  the  genuine  cavalrymen,  as  did 
Sheridan,  become  strongly  attached  to  their  sagacious, 
trusty,  often  magnificent  and  affectionate  steeds.  How 
cruel  and  wicked,  in  the  sight  of  God  and  good  men,  is 
the  daily  and  hourly  abuse  of  the  brute,  especially  so  of 
the  princely  horse ! 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Oolonel  Sheridan's  raiding  around  Corinth  with  Elliot's  Command — Enlarged 
Responsibility — General  Grant's  Commendation — Created  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral— A  Daring  Movement — Victory — Stone  Eiver. 

COLONEL  SHERIDAN  entered  promptly  and  en- 
thusiastically into  his  active  field  duties.  He  had 
been  successful  in  his  previous  official  work,  but 
now  the  way  was  fairly  opened  for  distinction  as 
a  soldier.  He  was  attached  to  Elliott's  cavalry- 
force  in  this  earliest  service. 

And  look  beyond  the  silent  battlements  of  Corinth, 
crowned  with  Union  banners,  and  away  further  than  you 
can  discern,  down  the  railway  toward  Mobile  : — why,  with 
rapid  marches,  sweep  the  lines  of  our  heroes  "in  saddle? 
Colonel  Elliott's  cavalry  are  on  the  wing  to  reach  Boone- 
ville  in  time  to  tear  up  the  track,  and  cut  off'  the  enemy's 
retreat.  "  Desolation  !  desolation  !  "  was  the  exclama- 
tion on  many  lips,  as  the  troopers  dashed  through  the 
once  fruitful  fields.  They  suffered  for  food.  See  those 
few  solitary,  haggard  sheep,  wandering  over  the  scarred 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  101 

and  desert-like  land.  "  Boys,  after  them  !  "  says  Colonel 
Elliott. 

An  odd  interlude  to  the  tragedy  of  war  is  that  chase 
after  the  gaunt  fugitives,  whose  masters  have  forsaken 
them.  Jokes  enliven  the  repast  of  the  hungry  men  over 
the  tough  and  juiceless  mutton,  taken  in  the  vast  slaugh- 
ter-field of  humanity — unlike  the  divine  abundance,  and 
yet  "  without  money  and  without  price." 

The  horsemen  destroyed  the  track,  burned  the  depot, 
a  train  of  cars,  and  a  large  quantity  of  arms,  and,  taking 
a  different  route  back,  reached  Corinth  again  in  safety. 

June  6th  he  led  a  reconnoissance  below  Donaldson's 
cross-roads.  Here  the  well-known  Forrest  met  Sheridan's 
troops,  and  a  sharp  engagement  followed,  in  which  he 
was  victorious  again  over  the  desperate  foe.  On  the  8th, 
commanding  two  regiments,  he  pursued  the  enemy  through 
Baldwin,  captured  it,  met  the  enemy  and  defeated  him,  and 
then,  in  accordance  with  orders,  returned  to  Corinth.  A  few 
days  later,  June  12th,  his  command  was  formally  enlarged 
to  that  of  a  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Second  Iowa  cavalry 
in  addition  to  his  own  regiment.  He  was  prepared  and 
impatient  to  make  an  onset  upon  the  foe,  equal  in  magni- 
tude to  the  strength  of  his  army.  The  coveted  opportunity 
was  at  hand.  He  was  ordered  to  Booneville,  twenty 
miles  in  front  of  the  main  army,  to  cover  its  advance,  and 
watch  carefully  the  enemy  before  him. 

July  1st,  General  Chalmers,  leading  nine  regiments, 


102  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

in  all  six  thousand  men,  attacked  Colonel  Sheridan  with 
his  two  regiments, 

Skirmishing  became  the  order  of  the  day,  until  the 
gallant  colonel  fell  back  upon  his  camp.  It  lay  upon  the 
margin  of  a  dense  swamp,  where  to  flank  him  would  be  a 
difficult  undertaking,  and  directly  confronting  his  power- 
ful foe  with  an  inferior  force,  he  could  keep  him  at  bay. 
The  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy  began  to  threat- 
en the  Union  brigade  with  isolation,  by  extending  their 
lines  around  it.  The  peril  suggested  a  fine  stroke  of 
strategy.  Selecting  ninety  men,  he  sent  them,  armed  with 
revolving  carbines  and  sabres,  along  a  curve  of  four  miles 
around  the  enemy,  with  orders  to  fall  on  the  rear  at  a  given 
time,  while  he  would  attack  the  front  at  the  same  mo- 
ment. 

The  bold,  shrewd  plan  succeeded.  While  the  Confed- 
erates were  dreaming  of  coming  victory,  suddenly  the 
crack  of  carbines  startled  the  "  rear-guard,"  and  then 
another  volley,  till  the  revolving  weapons  had  gone  their 
round,  when  the  bugle  sounded  a  charge  ;  and  fearlessly 
as  a  host  of  ten  thousand,  the  ninety  troopers  dashed  upon 
the  six  thousand.  Entirely  ignorant  of  the  numbers  ad- 
vancing, the  rebels  were  panic-smitten,  and  before  a  cor- 
rection of  the  mistake  was  possible,  Sheridan  made  his 
onset  in  front  with  his  usual  impetuosity,  sweeping  down 
upon  the  opposing  ranks  with  the  fury  of  a  tornado  from 
the  forest.  Routed  and  terrified  the  foe  fled  in  confusion. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  103 

General  Sheridan  pursued  him  with  rapid  pace,  over  a 
track  bordered  with  guns,  knapsacks,  coats,  and  whatever 
impeded  his  flight.  This  wild  chase  was  kept  up  for 
twenty  miles.  The  success  was  complete  and  brilliant. 

General  Grant  appreciated  the  deed  of  valor,  and 
in  his  report  to  the  War  Department,  expressed  his  ad 
miration,  commending  Colonel  Sheridan  for  promotion 
Accordingly,  a  brigadier-general's  commission,  dated  July 
1,  1862,  was  forwarded  to  the  heroic  officer.  You  will 
recollect  that  General  Sheridan's  headquarters  were  at 
Booneville,  Tishemingo  County,  Mississippi,  bordering  on 
Tennessee,  and  southerly  from  Corinth.  Twenty-Mile 
Creek  ran  between  him  and  the  enemy,  and  to  it  the  animals 
of  the  rebel  army  were  sent  for  watering.  This  afforded 
Sheridan  a  chance  for  a  cavalry  dash  now  and  then,  cap- 
turing as  many  as  three  hundred  of  them  at  a  time. 

A  few  weeks  afterwards,  in  August,  General  Sheridan 
performed  another  of  his  daring  movements.  Attacked 
by  Colonel  Faulkner,  not  far  from  the  town  of  Bienzi,  a 
short  and  desperate  struggle  terminated  in  victory  to  the 
Union  troopers,  Sheridan  pursuing  the  fugitives  almost  to 
the  main  column  of  the  hostile  force,  and  safely  retracing 
his  steps,  with  no  small  part  of  the  attacking  troops 
prisoners. 

And  now  we  come  to  grander  scenes  in  the  arena 
of  conflict.  Early  in  September,  1862,  Grant  learned 
that  the  rebel  forces  of  the  Southwest  were  making  a 


104  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

general  advance,  under  General  Bragg,  upon  the  Union 
positions  in  that  region,  having  the  Ohio  River  for  the 
goal  of  mad  ambition.  It  became  necessary  to  reenforce 
the  Army  of  Ohio,  then  under  the  command  of  General 
Buell.  Among  the  troops  ordered  to  join  him  was 
General  Sheridan's  command,  the  Second  Michigan  cav- 
alry, which  was  at  once  enlarged  by  General  Buell  to 
that  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  in  ac- 
cordance with  General  Grant's  expectation  when  he  as- 
signed to  him  the  valiant  officer.  September  20th,  Bragg 
was  near  Louisville,  Kentucky,  which  was  poorly  pre- 
pared for  an  attack.  It  was  General  Sheridan's  duty  to 
defend  the  city.  With  prompt  energy  he  took  the  hours 
of  night  for  digging  rifle-pits  stretching  from  the  railroad 
depot  toward  Portland,  forming  a  strong  defence  against 
the  enemy's  approach,  by  securing  the  town  against  sur- 
prise. Here  General  Buell  found  Sheridan,  September 
25th,  when  he  arrived  there  to  organize  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  to  which  heavy  reinforcements  had  been  added. 
This  new  order  of  things  placed  General  Sheridan  at  the 
head  of  the  Eleventh  Division,  October  1st. 

The  Union  forces  entered  upon  offensive  warfare,  bear- 
ing steadily  down  upon  the  rebels,  who,  finding  themselves 
thus  confronted,  began  to  retreat.  Their  success,  however, 
had  laden  them  with  plunder,  which  impeded  their  pro- 
gress backward.  To  give  their  supply  trains  time  to  get 
out  of  the  way,  and  bring  our  troops  to  a  stand,  Bragg 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  105 

gave  battle  at  Perryville,  Kentucky.  The  engagement, 
"though  a  severe  one,  was  not  decisive,  owing  to  some 
defects  in  the  handling  of  the  forces,  and  Bragg  was  al- 
lowed to  make  good  his  retreat  with  most  of  his  plunder, 
and  with  but  moderate  loss ;  but  in  it  Sheridan  played 
a  distinguished  part,  holding  the  key  of  the  Union  posi- 
tion, and  resisting  the  onsets  of  the  enemy  again  and 
again,  with  great  bravery  and  skill,  driving  them  at  last 
from  the  open  ground  in  front  by  a  bayonet  charge. 
This  accomplished,  he  saw  that  they  were  gaining  advan- 
tage on  the  left  of  the  Union  line,  and  moving  forward  his 
artillery,  directed  so  terrible  a  fire  upon  the  rebel  advance, 
that  he  drove  them  also  from  the  open  ground  on  which 
they  had  taken  position.  Enraged  at  being  thus  foiled, 
they  charged  with  great  fury  upon  his  lines,  determined 
to  carry  the  point  at  all  hazards ;  but,  with  the  utmost 
coolness,  he  opened  upon  them  at  short  range  with  such 
a  murderous  fire  of  grape  and  canister,  that  they  fell  back 
in  great  disorder,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  in 
winrows  in  front  of  the  batteries.  The  loss  in  Sheridan's 
division  in  killed  and  wounded  was  over  four  hundred, 
but  his  generalship  had  saved  the  Union  army  from  de- 
feat. On  the  30th  of  October,  General  Rosecrans  suc- 
ceeded General  Buell  as  commander  of  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  which,  with  enlarged  territory,  was  thenceforward 
to  be  known  as  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  In  its 
reorganization  General  Sheridan  was  assigned  to  the 


106  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAK. 

command  of -one  of  the  divisions  of  McCook's  corps, 
which  constituted  the  right  wing  of  that  army.  He  re- 
mained for  the  next  seven  or  eight  weeks  in  the  vicinity 
of  Nashville,  and  then  moved  with  his  corps,  on  the  26th 
of  December,  1862,  toward  Murfreesboro'.  During  the 
26th  his  division  met  the  enemy  on  the  Nolensville  Road, 
and  skirmished  with  them  to  Nolensville  and  Knob  Gap, 
occupying  at  night  the  latter  important  position.  The 
next  morning  a  dense  fog  obscured  the  horizon,  but  as 
soon  as  it  lifted,  Sheridan  pressed  forward  and  drove  the 
enemy  from  the  village  of  Triune,  which  he  occupied." 

The  decisive  hour  of  a  great  conflict  had  come.  Tow- 
ard this  clash  of  arms,  the  fierce  and  awful  collision  of 
mighty  armies,  their  movements  for  weeks  had  been  tend- 
ing. Along  the  banks  of  Stone  River,  the  final  prepara- 
tions for  deadly  encounter  went  forward  the  last  days 
of  December.  An  army  in  battle  array,  has  its  centre 
or  body,  and  its  wings,  stretching  out  on  either  side. 
General  Sheridan's  position  was  next  to  the  centre,  in 
the  right  wing,  or  on  its  extreme  left,  where  the  first 
onslaught  of  the  enemy  would  be  made.  To  give  a  vivid 
impression  of  the  terrible  contest,  its  effect  upon  behold- 
ers before  we  were  accustomed  to  such  sanguinary 
scenes,  and  General  Sheridan's  gallant  behavior,  I 
shall  quote  passages  from  the  notes  of  one  who  was 
there: 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN.  107 

"  BATTLE-FIELD  OP  STONE  RIVER,  TENN,,  ) 
Saturday,  January  3,  1863.      \ 

"A  week  of  horrors,  a  week  of  carnage,  a  week  of 
tremendous  conflict — and  battle  still  raging!  At  this 
moment  there  is  angry  rattle  of  musketry  and  deep,  sul- 
len roar  of  cannon,  echoing  in  the  forest  within  Minie 
range  of  our  marquee.  My  God,  when  will  it  end !  A 
thousand  gallant  dead  slumber  in  their  bloody  graves  ; 
four  thousand  wounded  and  mangled  patriots  are  moan- 
ing on  this  sanguinary  field.  God  knows  how  many  rebel 
live 5  have  closed  during  this  fearful  week,  or  how  many 
desperate  traitors  suffer  the  agony  of  dreadful  wounds. 

"  In  the  rage  of  conflict  the  human  heart  expresses 
little  sympathy  with  human  suffering.  Your  best  friend 
is  lifted  from  the  saddle  by  the  fatal  shaft,  and  plunges 
wildly  to  the  earth — a  corpse.  One  convulsive  leap  of 
your  heart,  you  dash  onward  in  the  stormy  field,  and  the 
dead  is  forgotten  until  the  furious  frenzy  of  battle  is 
spent.  '  Never  mind,'  said  our  great-hearted  General, 
when  the  death  of  the  noble  Sill  was  announced  ;  *  brave 
men  must  die  in  battle  !  We  must  seek  results.'  When 
Gareshe's  headless  trunk  fell  at  his  feet,  a  shock  thrilled 
him,  and  he  dashed  again  into  the  fray.  He  was  told 
that  McCook  was  killed.  '  We  cannot  help  it ;  men  who 
fight  must  be  killed.  Never  mind ;  let  us  fight  this 
battle.' 

u  On  Friday,  December  26th,  the  army  advanced  in 


108  LIFE   OF   GENEEAL    SHERIDAN. 

three  columns  :  Major-General  McCook's  corps  dcwn  the 
Nolinsville  pike,  driving  Hardee  before  him  a  mile  and 
a  half  beyond  Nolinsville ;  Major-General  Thomas's 
corps,  from  its  encampment  on  the  Franklin  pike  via  the 
Wilson  pike  ;  Crittenden  on  the  Murfreesboro  pike.  The 
right  and  left  met  with  considerable  resistance  in  a  rolling 
and  hilly  country,  with  rocky  bluffs  and  dense  cedar 
thickets,  affording  cover  for  the  enemy's  skirmishers. 
Crittenden  moved  to  a  point  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of 
La  Vergne,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  sharply.  General 
Thomas  met  with  but  litlle  opposition. 

"  On  the  27th  McCook  drove  Hardee  from  a  point 
beyond  Nolinsville,  and  pushed  a  reconnoitring  division 
six  miles  toward  Shelbyville,  discovering  that  Hardee 
had  retreated  to  Murfreesboro.  This  indicated  intention 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  make  a  stand ;  otherwise, 
Hardee  would  have  fallen  back  upon  Shelbyville.  Gen- 
eral Crittenden  fought'  all  the  way  to  Stewart's  Creek, 
with  small  loss,  and  rested  on  its  banks,  i-ebel  pickets  ap- 
pearing on  the  opposite  banks.  General  Rosecrans* 
headquarters  were  then  at  a  point  twelve  miles  from 
Nashville.  It  seemed  that  the  enemy  would  make  a 
stand  on  Stewart's  Creek,  that  being  a  good  line  of  de- 
fence. That  night  General  Thomas,  with  the  divisions 
of  Rousseau  and  Negley,  occupied  Nolinsville. 

"  On  the  28th  General  McCook  completed  his  recon- 
noissance  of  Hardee's  movements,  and  General  Critten- 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  109 

den  awaited  results,  while  General  Thomas  moved  his 
corps  across  to  Stewart's  Creek,  executing  a  fatiguing 
march  with  great  energy,  General  Rosecrans  deeming  his 
junction  with  the  left  of  great  importance  at  that  time. 

"  On  the  29th  General  McCook  moved  to  Wilkinson's 
cross-roads,  within  seven  miles  of  Murfreesboro,  at  the 
end  of  a  short  road  through  a  rough,  rolling  country, 
skirted  by  bluffs  and  dense  cedar  thickets.  General 
Crittenden  moved  forward  with  some  resistance  to  a 
point  within  three  miles  of  Murfreesboro,  and  found  the 
enemy  in  force.  General  Negley  was  moved  forward  to 
the  centre,  Rousseau's  division  in  reserve  on  the  right  of 
Crittenden's  corps.  General  Rosecrans'  headquarters 
advanced  to  the  east  side  of  Stewart's  Creek,  and  after  a 
hasty  supper  he  proceeded  to  the  front  and  remained  on 
the  field  all  night.  He  was  accompanied  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Garesche,  his  Chief  of  Staff;  Colonel  Barnett, 
Chief  of  Artillery  ;  Major  Goddard,  A.  A.  G. ;  Major 
Skinner,  Lieutenant  Byron  Kirby,  Lieutenant  Bond,  and 
Father  Tracy,  who  remained  faithfully  with  him,  and  at 
no  time,  from  the  beginning  of  the  action,  deserted  him. 

"  On  the  30th  General  McCook  advanced  on  the 
Wilkinson  pike  through  heavy  thickets,  stubbornly  re- 
sisted by  the  enemy — General  Sheridan's  division  being 
in  advance,  General  Sill's  brigade  constituting  his  right. 
The  enemy  developed  such  strength  that  General  McCook 
directed  Sheridan  to  form  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  divi- 


110  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN. 

sion  of  General  Jeff.  C.  Davis  was  thrown  out  upon  hii 
right.  It  was  now  discovered  that  Hardee's  corps  was  in 
front,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  in  line  of  battle,  his 
front  crossing  our  right  obliquely,  in  position,  if  extended, 
to  flank  us.  Our  left  stood  fast,  in  line  corresponding 
with  the  course  of  Stone  River,  mainly  upon  undulating 
fields.  The  centre,  under  Negley,  slightly  advanced  into 
a  cedar  thicket,  and  was  engaged,  with  great  difficulty, 
in  reconnoitring,  under  sharp  resistance,  and  in  cutting 
roads  through  the  almost  impenetrable  forest,  to  open 
communication  with  the  right.  The  contest  had  brought 
forward  McCook's  right  division,  facing  strongly  south- 
east, with  the  reserve  division  between  the  centre  and 
right,  and  sufficiently  far  in  the  rear  to  support,  and  if 
necessary  to  extend  it — the  consequences  which  were 
developed  next  day.  Two  brigades  of  Johnson's  division 
— Kirk's  and  Willich's — were  ultimately  tnrown  out  on 
the  extreme  right,  facing  south,  and  somewhat  in  reserve, 
to  make  every  thing  secure. 

"  We  were  as  confident  that  day  that  there  would  be 
battle  on  the  next,  as  we  were  conscious  of  existence.  A 
good  many  men,  indeed,  had  already  fallen.  Rebels  in 
considerable  numbers  were  already  visible  across  the 
plains,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  We  watched 
them  through  our  glasses  with  excited  interest.  Reports 
of  menacing  movements  came  in  constantly.  At  last 
heavy  guns  were  heard  on  the  left,  away  in  the  distance, 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  Ill 

and  two  hours  later  the  General  was  annoyed  by  official 
report  that  rebel  cavalry  had  captured  some  of  our  wagons 
on  the  Jefferson  pike.  Still  later  the  daring  rascals  cap- 
tured another  train  directly  in  our  rear,  on  the  Murfrees- 
boro  pike.  A  strong  cavalry  force  was  despatched  after 
them,  but  gallant  Colonel  Burke,  posted  at  Stonard  Creek 
with  his  Thirteenth  Ohio,  had  already  sent  one  hundred 
and  fifty  of  his  men  to  intercept  the  marauders,  and  he 
recaptured  most  of  the  property. 

"  Night  was  approaching  without  battle,  when  Cap- 
tain Fisher,  of  General  McCook's  staff,  dashed  up  on  a 
foaming  steed,  bearing  information  that  Kirby  Smith, 
supported  by  Breckinridge,  had  concentrated  on  our  left. 
4  Tell  General  McCook,'  said  General  Rosecrans,  'that 
if  he  is  assured  that  such  is  the  fact,  he  may  drive  Hardee 
sharply  if  he  is  ready.  At  all  events,  tell  him  to  prepare 
for  battle  to-morrow  morning.  Tell  him  to  fight  as  if  the 
fate  of  a  great  battle  depended  upon  him.  While  he  holds 
Hardee,  the  left,  under  Crittenden,  will  swing  around  and 
take  Murfreesboro.  Let  Hardee  attack,  if  he  desires.  It 
will  suit  us  exactly/ 

"At  seven  o'clock  I  started  through  the  woods  to 
watch  the  progress  of  the  engagement.  A  mile  from 
quarters  I  met  a  stream  of  stragglers  pouring  through 
the  thickets,  reporting  disaster :  '  General  Sill  is  killed—- 
General Johnson  had  lost  three  batteries — McCook's  line 
is  broken — the  enemy  is  driving  us — rebel  cavalry  is  in 


112  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAW. 

the  rear  capturing  our  trains/  The  stragglers  general!} 
were  not  panic-stricken.  Most  of  them  had  their  arms ; 
but  the  negroes,  servants,  and  teamsters  were  frantic. 

"  The  roar  of  battle  approached  alarmingly  near  and 
rapidly.  It  was  now  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had 
massed  on  our  right  and  attacked  along  its  entire  line. 
Hardee  and  McCook  had  formed  their  lines  on  opposite 
sides  of  a  valley,  which  narrowed  toward  McCook's  left. 

"  The  enemy  advanced  upon  him  in  columns  of  regi- 
ments massed  six  lines  deep — sufficient  to  break  any 
ordinary  line ;  but  Sill  gallantly  received  the  shock  and 
drove  the  foe  clear  back  to  his  original  position,  where 
they  re-formed.  Schasffer  and  Roberts  were  equally  suc- 
cessful. But  Johnson's  division,  taken  somewhat  by  sur- 
prise, was  swung  back  like  a  gate,  and  began  to  crumble 
at  the  flanks.  Two  of  his  batteries — Edgarton's  and 
Goodspeed's — were  taken  before  a  gun  was  fired ;  the 
horses  had  not  been  harnessed,  and  some  were  even  then 
going  to  water.  This,  I  understand,  was  not  the  fault 
of  Johnson,  who,  I  am  told,  had  issued  prudent  orders. 

"  The  enemy's  line,  obliquely  to  ours  originally,  had 
worked  around  until  it  flanked  us  almost  transversely, 
giving  them  a  direct,  enfilading,  and  rear  fire.  Johnson's 
division  melted  away  like  a  snowbank  in  spring  time — 
thus  imperilling  Davis's  division,  which  was  also  obliged 
to  break.  Sheridan  immediately  changed  front  to  the 
rear,  and  his  left,  adjoining  Negley,  was  forced  into  BE 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  113 

angle,  which  gave  the  enemy  the  decisive  advantage  of 
a  cross-fire.  Sill  rallied  his  men  again  most  gallantly, 
and  while  leading  them  in  a  charge  was  fatally  struck, 
and  died  at  the  head  of  his  line,  a  musket-ball  entering 
his  upper  lip  and  ranging  upward  through  his  brain. 
General  Willich,  at  about  the  same  time,  was  captured. 
Brigadier- General  Kirk  was  seriously  wounded,  and  the 
gallant  Colonel  Roberts,  of  the  Forty-second  Illinois,  while 
repulsing  a  fierce  attack  at  the  angle,  was  killed  at  the 
head  of  his  brigade.  Sheridan  had  thus  lost  two  brigade 
commanders  and  Hotaling's  battery.  His  almost  orphan- 
ed division  was  left  to  protect  Negley's  left,  in  the  centre, 
both  Davis  and  Johnson  being  sent  off  from  him.  But 
Sheridan,  by  his  own  noble  exertions,  held  his  division 
firmly,  and  the  Eighth  division,  under  Negley,  by  desper- 
ate valor,  checked  the  powerful  masses  of  the  enemy  until 
succor  could  be  thrown  in  from  the  left  and  the  reserves. 
Sheridan  having  repulsed  the  enemy  four  times,  and 
changed  his  front  completely  in  face  of  the  enemy,  retired 
toward  the  Murfreesboro  pike,  bringing  back  his  gallant 
command  in  perfect  order.  There  has  been  no  time  to 
inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  disaster  on  the  right,  but 
obviously  there  was  something  wrong. 

u  Meantime,  while  this  losing  battle  was  going  on, 

the  General  Commanding   had  galloped  into  the  field, 

followed  by  his  staff  and  escort.     He  had  sent  a  reply  to 

McCook's  application  for  aid  :  '  Tell  General  McCook  I 

8 


114:  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN. 

will  help  him.'  In  an  instant  he  galloped  to  the  left 
and  sent  forward  Beatty's  brigade.  Moving  down  to  the 
extreme  left,  he  was  discovered  by  the  enemy,  and  a  full 
battery  opened  upon  him.  Solid  shot  and  shell  stormed 
about  us  furiously.  The  General  himself  was  unmoved 
by  it,  but  his  staff  generally  were  more  sensitive.  The 
inclination  to  dodge  was  irresistible.  Directly  one  poor 
fellow  of  the  escort  was  dismounted,  and  his  horse  galloped 
frantically  over  the  fields.  The  General  directed  Colonel 
Barnett,  his  chief  of  artillery,  to  post  a  battery  to  shell 
the  enemy,  waiting  to  see  it  done.  The  Colonel  galloped 
forward  coolly  under  fire,  and  soon  had  Cox's  Tenth  Indi- 
ana battery  lumbering  away  toward  a  commanding  point. 
The  officer  in  command  wheeled  into  position  at  a  point 
apparently  unfavorable  for  sharp  work.  The  General 
shouted  :  '  On  the  crest ;  on  the  crest  of  the  hill/  On  the 
crest  it  went,  and  in  five  minutes  the  rebels  closed  their 
music.  Beatty's  brigade  was  now  double-quicking  under 
fire  obliquely  from  left  to  right,  as  coolly  as  if  on  parade. 
Inquiring  who  held  the  extreme  left,  the  General  was  an- 
swered, Colonel  Wagner's  brigade.  '  Tell  Wagner  to 
hold  his  position  at  all  hazards.'  Soon  after  Colonel 
Wagner  replied,  laconically  :  '  Say  to  the  General,  I  will.' 
Down  at  the  toll-gate,  on  the  pike,  we  get  another  '  bliz- 
zard,' with  an  interlude  of  Minies,  which  whistled  about 
with  an  admonitory  slit.  The  shifting  scene  of  the  battle 
now  carried  the  General  back  to  the  centre  of  the  field. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  115 

The  enemy  were  streaming  through  the  woods  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  in  front.  The  forest  was  populous  with  them. 
Our  batteries  were  dashing  across  the  plain  with  frightful 
vehemence,  wheeling  into  position  and  firing  with  terrific 
rapidity.  The  rebel  artillery  played  upon  us  remorse- 
lessly, tearing  men  and  horses  to  pieces.  The  sharpshoot- 
ers were  still  more  vicious.  A  flight  of  bullets  passed 
through  the  staff.  I  heard  an  insinuating  thud  !  and  saw 
a  poor  orderly  within  sabre  distance  topple  from  his  saddle 
and  tumble  headlong  to  mother  earth.  One  convulsive 
shudder,  and  he  was  no  more.  His  bridle-hand  clutched 
the  reins  in  death.  A  comrade  loosened  his  grasp,  and 
his  faithful  gray  stood  quietly  beside  the  corpes.  Another 
bullet  went  through  the  jaw  of  Lieutenant  Benton's  beau- 
tiful chestnut.  Smarting  with  pain,  he  struck  violently 
with  his  hoofs  at  the  invisible  tormentor.  Benton  dis- 
mounted and  awaited  the  anticipated  catastrophe,  but  he 
rode  his  horse  again  all  through  that  fiery  day.  One  or 
two  other  horses  were  hit,  and  the  cavalcade  rushed  from 
that  line  of  fire  to  another,  just  in  time  to  be  splashed  with 
mud  from  the  spat  of  a  six-pound  shot.  It  seemed  that 
there  was  not  a  square  yard  on  the  field  free  from  fire. 
The  rattle  of  musketry  and  roar  of  artillery  was  deafen- 
ing. Still  the  General  charged  through  it  as  if  it  had 
been  harmless  rain.  It  was  wonderful  that  he  escaped—- 
fortunate that  his  uniform, was  covered  by  an  overcoat. 
Gralloping  down  again  to  the  extreme  front,  an  officer  in 


116  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

range  with  the  General  was  suddenly  dismounted.  A 
round-shot  struck  his  horse  squarely  on  the  thigh,  knock- 
ing him  a  rod,  and  tumbling  the  rider  all  in  a  heap  over 
the  soil.  Pushing  out  to  the  cedar  forest,  where  Negley' s 
gallant  division  was  struggling  against  great  odds,  trusty 
Sheridan  was  met,  bringing  out  his  tried  division  in  superb 
order.  Negley  was  still  fighting  desperately  against  odds. 
Johnson,  too,  appeared  soon  after,  but  his  command  was 
temporarily  shattered. 

"  During  all  this  period  Negley's  two  gallant  brigades, 
under  valiant  old  Stanley  (of  the  Eighteenth  Ohio),  and 
brave  John  F.  Miller,  were  holding  their  line  against  fear- 
ful odds.  When  the  right  broke,  Negley  had  pushed  in 
clean  ahead  of  the  left  of  the  right  wing,  and  was  driving 
the  enemy.  The  Seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania,  Thirty- 
seventh  Indiana,  Twenty-first,  Seventy-fourth,  Eigh- 
teenth, and  Sixty-ninth  Ohio,  the  famous  Nineteenth 
Illinois,  and  Eleventh  Michigan,  with  Knell's,  Marshall's, 
Shultz's,  and  Bush's  batteries,  sustained  one  of  the  fiercest 
assaults  of  the  day,  and  the  enemy  was  dreadfully  pun- 
ished. Still  they  came  on  like  famished  wolves,  in  col- 
umns, by  divisions,  sweeping  over  skirmishers,  disre- 
garding them  utterly.  The  Nineteenth  Illinois,  under 
gallant  young  Scott,  and  the  Eleventh  Michigan,  led  by 
brave  Stoughton,  charged  in  advance,  and  drove  back  a 
division.  The  enemy,  far  outnumbering  the  splendid 
Eighth,  swarmed  in  front,  on  both  flank?,  and  finally  burst 


LIFE   OF   GENEEAL    SHEEIDAN.  117 

upon  its  rear,  reaching  a  point  within  fifty  yards  of  Neg- 
ley's  quarters  before  they  were  discovered,  Negley  being 
unaware  of  the  extent  of  the  disaster  on  the  right.  Rous- 
seau's division  had  been  sent  into  the  woods  to  support 
the  Eighth,  but  was  withdrawn  before  the  Eighth  got  out. 
Negley  had  formed  his  brigades  in  echelon,  and  seeing  the 
critical  nature  of  his  position,  he  was  obliged  to  order  a 
retrograde  movement.  But  even  after  that  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  and  Eleventh  Michigan  made  another  dash  to  the 
front,  driving  the  enemy  again,  then  wheeling  abruptly, 
pushed  steadily  out  of  the  cedars. 

"  Rousseau,  one  of  the  most  magnificent  men  on  the 
field,  with  the  port  of  Ajax  and  the  fire  of  Achilles — no 
wonder  his  gallant  lads  adore  him — did  not  fancy  thu> 
retrograde  movement.  The  regulars,  Twenty-fifth,  Six- 
teenth, Eighteenth,  and  Nineteenth,  under  Colonel  Shep- 
herd, on  his  right,  liked  it  no  better.  Youthful  Beatty^ 
Third  Ohio,  commanding  the  Seventeenth  brigade,  and 
Scribner  with  the  Ninth,  were  also  in  ill-humor  about  it,  but 
there  was  no  help  for  it.  After  debouching  from  the  cedars, 
Loomis  and  Guenther  could  find  no  good  position  at  hand 
for  their  batteries,  and  the  whole  line  fell  back  under  severe 
fighting,  the  left  lying  flat  upon  the  ground,  the  right  cov- 
ered by  a  crest.  The  two  batteries  now  swiftly  wheeled 
into  favorable  positions  and  poured  double-shotted  canister 
into  the  enemy.  The  Twenty-third  Arkansas  was  literally 
swept  away  by  their  devouring  fire.  Loomis  and  Guen- 


118  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

ther  were  wild  with  delight  at  their  success.  The  baffled 
enemy  came  no  further.  The  field  was  red  with  the  blood 
of  their  slain.  Rousseau  had  sent  word  that  he  had  fallen 
back  to  the  position  he  then  occupied.  '  Tell  the  Gen- 
eral/ said  he,  '  I'll  stay  right  here,  right  here ;  I  won't 
budge  an  inch.'  He  did  stay  '  right '  there. 

"  The  enemy  had  compelled  us  to  change  front  com- 
pletely. General  Rosecrans  himself  executed  it  at  awful 
personal  hazard.  There  was  not  a  point  in  the  very  front 
of  battle  which  he  did  not  visit.  Taking  advantage  of  a 
commanding  crest,  on  the  left  of  the  pike,  he  posted  the 
batteries,  and  some  twenty  or  thirty  guns  opened  with 
prodigious  volume.  Solid  shot  and  shell  crashed  through 
the  populous  forest  in  a  tumult  of  destructive  fury.  The 
cloud  of  smoke  for  some  minutes  completely  enveloped 
the  gunners,  and  obscured  them  from  view.  Now,  then, 
we  charge.  Down  through  the  field  and  across  the  road, 
the  General  in  the  lead.  Bitterly  whistled  the  leaden 
hail.  A  soldier  falls  dead  under  the  very  hoofs  of  the 
Commander's  horse.  4  Advance  the  line — charge  them,' 
and  our  gallant  lads,  fired  with  the  wild  enthusiasm  of  the 
moment,  madly  push  up  the  hill.  The  forests  are  splin- 
tered with  the  furious  volumes  oT  fire.  On  they  go.  You 
line  of  gray  and  steel  halts,  staggers,  reels.  '  There  they 
go,'  shouts  the  gallant  leader.  '  Now  drive  them  home  ! ' 
Great  God,  what  tumult  in  the  brain.  Sense  reels  with 
the  intoxicating  frenzy.  There  was  a  line  of  dead  blue 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  119 

coats  where  the  charge  was  so  gallantly  made  ;  but  the 
corpses  of  the  foe  were  scattered  thickly  through  those 
woods  where  Beatty's  brigade — Old  Rich  Mountain  Beatty 
—made  that  glorious  charge.  It  was  the  first  encour- 
aging event  of  that  gloomy  morn. 

"  Sweeping  rapidly  from  that  point  to  our  left,  the 
whole  line  was  put  in  motion,  and  the  batteries  advanced. 
A  few  hundred  yards  on  left  of  Beatty's  line  the  enemy 
were  still  advancing,  boldly  driving  a  small  brigade  down 
a  little  valley  before  them.  As  the  head  of  the  retreating 
column  debouched  from  a  thicket,  it  was  interrupted  by 
the  General,  and  re-formed  by  members  of  his  staff. 
Stokes's  battery  advanced  rapidly  across  the  road,  sup- 
ported by  Captain  St.  Clair  Morton's  battalions  of  pio- 
neers— men  selected  from  all  regiments  for  their  vigor 
and  mechanical  skill.  The  fire  was  desperately  hot,  but 
the  General  saw  only  a  broken  line  which  he  determined 
to  rally.  The  battery  was  planted  on  a  little  knoll,  with 
its  flanks  protected  by  thickets,  and  Morton  deployed  his 
pioneers  on  either  side.  The  battery  opened  briskly,  and 
Morton  led  his  battalion  beautifully  to  the  front.  The 
enemy,  suddenly  checked  by  the  murderous  fire,  staggered 
and  fell  back  swiftly,  sheltering  themselves  in  friendly 
forests.  And  so,  along  the  whole  line,  the  enemy  was 
pressed  backward.  The  day  was  saved.  No  man  dis- 
putes that  the  personal  exertions  of  General  Rosecraiis 
retrieved  the  fortunes  of  the  morning. 


120  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  At  about  two  o'clock  the  enemy  were  discovered 
right  and  left  of  the  Murfreesboro  pike,  advancing  in  heavy 
masses  to  attack  our  left  wing.  Such  a  field  of -battle  is 
rarely  witnessed.  It  was  a  scene  of  appalling  grandeur. 
Every  feature  was  keenly  cut  and  clearly  defined.  The 
day  was  one  of  surprising  beauty.  The  blazing  sun  shone 
kindly  through  the  canopy  of  smoke  which  expanded  over 
the  dreadful  combat.  The  pomp  of  battalions  in  martial 
panoply  loomed  up  grandly  in  their  staunch  array.  At 
regular  intervals  there  were  bold  figures  of  solitary  horse- 
men standing  out  in  sharp  relief,  faithful  guardians  of 
our  brave  soldiers  and  shining  targets  for  the  infernal 
marksmen  of  the  foe.  Gallant  officers,  defiantly  inviting 
the  murderous  skill  of  sharpshooters  ambushed  behind 
every  covert  on  the  plains.  Oh  !  vain,  sad  sacrifice  !  It 
thrills  the  soul  with  anguish  to  scan  the  bloody  record  of 
that  gory  day.  Behind  them,  crowning  commanding 
crests,  our  own  fine  batteries  distributed  over  the  field  in 
unstudied  picturesqueness,  were  clothed  in  thunder  and 
and  robed  in  sheets  of  smoke  and  flame.  Horses,  frantic 
with  anguish  of  wounds,  and  wild  with  the  furious  tumult, 
were  bounding  in  their  leashes  with  desperate  energy, 
seeking  to  fly  the  field.  Dozens  of  them  were  torn  to 
shreds.  A  single  shell  crashed  through  three  noble  beasts, 
and  piled  them,  in  dreadful  confusion,  under  a  shattered 
limber.  A  solid  shot  struck  a  gun-carriage  and  glanced 
off,  taking  with  it  the  head  of  another  horse.  One  battery 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  121 

lost  twenty-eight  horses,  another  thirty-two.  Hundreds 
of  their  carcasses  were  strewn  upon  the  field.  General 
McCook's  horse  was  killed  under  him  ;  Major  Caleb  Bates 
lost  his  also.  Negley's  staff  lost  three  or  four.  Every 
staff  suffered  in  some  degree. 

u  The  hostile  array  on  the  other  side  imparted  an  awful 
sublimity  to  the  spectacle.  Great  masses  of  rebel  troops 
moved  steadily  over  the  field,  careless  of  our  battery  play, 
which  tore  open  their  ranks  and  scattered  them  bleeding 
upon  the  soil.  But  they  marched  up  through  the  destroy- 
ing storm  dauntlessly.  Their  batteries  wheeled  into  posi- 
tion, and  were  worked  with  telling  effect.  There  was  a 
point,  however,  beyond  which  even  their  desperadoes  could 
not  be  urged.  The  battle  raged  two  hours  with  horrid 
slaughter,  and  neither  side  receded  until  nearly  five  o'clock, 
when  the  well-nigh  exhausted  armies  suspended  operations 
for  the  night,  excepting  the  play  of  a  few  batteries. 

"  It  was  a  most  desperate  contest  and  undecided.  The 
advantage  was  with  the  enemy.  He  had  driven  our  right 
almost  upon  our  left,  compelling  us  to  change  front  under 
fire,  and  he  occupied  that  part  of  the  field.  He  also  held 
territory  occupied  that  morning  by  our  pickets  on  the  left, 
but  we  had  receded  from  that  ground  to  draw  him  out. 
No  battle  was  ever  more  fiercely  fought.  Daring  valor 
had  been  displayed  on  either  side.  Victory  had  been 
promised  to  the  foe,  but  the  tenacity  of  our  General,  the 
skill  with  which  he  turned  the  tide  of  battle,  his  cheerful- 


122  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

ness  in  the  midst  of  adversity,  the  steadiness  of  Generals 
Thomas'  and  Crittenden's  corps,  the  dauntless  courage 
of  Rousseau*  and  Negley's  divisions,  gave  promise 
of  triumph  in  the  end.  But  the  situation  was  extremely 
critical.  The  enemy  still  evinced  determination  to  turn 
our  right  and  cut  us  off  from  Nashville. 

"  At  dawn  Thursday  morning  we  renewed  the  battle, 
but  the  enemy  were  not  disposed  to  accept  the  challenge, 
and  they  were  posted  in  such  a  manner  that  a  general 
attack  was  not  deemed  prudent.  An  hour  or  two  later 
they  moved  out  of  position  and  assaulted  us  furiously  on 
the  left  of  the  centre,  and  right  of  the  left  wing.  After  a 
severe  engagement  they  were  handsomely  repulsed.  That 
evening  Van  Cleve's  division,  then  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Beatty,  of  the  Nineteenth  Ohio,  was  thrown 
across  Stone  River,  on  our  extreme  left,  without  serious 
resistance. 

"  By  Friday  the  prospect  was  very  cheering.  Except- 
ing the  reverse  of  Wednesday  morning,  the  enemy  had 
been  driven  in  every  engagement.  The  ball  was  opened 
early  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  taking  the  initiative.  Sharp 
demonstrations  were  made  along  the  whole  line,  but  nothing 
decisive  was  attempted  until  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  rebels  suddenly  burst  upon  Battery  Six  (late 
Van  Cleve's)  in  small  divisions  on  the  other  side  of  Stone 
River,  and  drove  it  pell-mell  with  considerable  loss  to  this 
side.  The  enemy,  as  usual,  had  massed  its  army  and  ad- 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  123 

tranced  in  great  strength.  Negley's  division,  supported  by 
that  of  Davis,  and  St.  Clair  Morton's  pioneer  battalion, 
were  immediately  sent  forward  to  retrieve  the  disaster. 
A  sanguinary  conflict  ensued,  perhaps  the  most  bitter  of  the 
whole  battle.  Davis  also  went  up  in  gallant  array.  Both 
sides  massed  their  batteries,  and  plied  them  with  desperate 
energy.  The  infantry  of  either  side  displayed  great  valor, 
but  Negley's  unconquerable  Eighth  division  resolved  to  win. 
The  fury  of  the  conflict  now  threatened  mutual  annihila- 
tion, but  Stanley  and  Miller,  with  the  Nineteenth  Illinois, 
Eighteenth,  Twenty-first,  and  Seventy-fourth  Ohio,  Seven- 
ty-eighth Pennsylvania,  Eleventh  Michigan,  and  Thirty- 
seventh  Indiana,  charged  simultaneously,  and  drove  the 
enemy  rapidly  before  them,  capturing  a  battery  and  taking 
the  flag  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Tennessee,  the  color-sergeant 
being  killed  with  a  bayonet.  The  banner  is  the  trophy  of 
the  Seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania.  The  fire  of  our  bat- 
teries exceeded  in  vigor  even  the  cannonading  of  Wedne^- 
day.  At  about  sunset  the  whole  rebel  line  receded,  leaving 
about  four  hundred,,  prisoners  in  our  custody. 

"  General  Rosecrans,  as  usual,  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
fray,  directing  the  movement  of  troops  and  the  range  of. 
batteries.  Our  victory  was  clean  and  destructive.  The 
enemy  lost  over  a  thousand  men,  including,  it  is  said,  Brig- 
adier-General Roger  Hanson,  of  Kentucky.  Again  our 
brave  lads  shouted.  The  woods  sounded  with  the 
joyful  acclaim.  Officers  of  Negley's  division  galloped 


124  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEKLDAN. 

swiftly  across  the  field,  trailing  the  captured  flag  ;  a  thou- 
sand willing  hands  seized  the  captured  guns  and  dragged 
them  into  camp.  But  this  was  the  glorification.  The 
Commander  sought  the  real  results.  Masses  of  troops 
were  ordered  to  follow  the  sullen  enemy,  and  the  yell  of 
pursuers  and  clatter  of  musketry  resounded  far  into  night. 
The  darkness,  however,  caused  suspension  of  the  pursuit. 
"  Friday  night  it  rained  heavily,  and  Saturday  a  storm 
raged  all  day.  Early  in  the  morning  a  brigade  of  rebels 
made  a  sudden  dash  upon  the  Forty-second  Indiana,  and 
cut  it  up  seriously.  After  that  the  day  was  quiet,  saving 
a  persecution  of  our  pickets  by  sharpshooters,  who  took 
shelter  in  a  residence  on  the  pike.  General  Rousseau,  dis- 
satisfied with  such  proceedings,  directed  the  batteries  of 
Loomis  and  Guenther  to  batter  down  the  house,  and  in 
fifteen  minutes  nothing  was  left  of  it ;  a  number  of  rebels 
were  killed,  including  the  colonel  of  the  First  Louisiana 
regiment.  At  dark,  Rousseau  determined  to  carry  the  war 
a  little  further  into  Dixie.  A  rebel  breastwork  in  his  front, 
occupied  by  a  brigade  during  the  day,  had  covered  trouble- 
some marksmen.  Colonel  Beatty  was  ordered  to  carry  the 
work  with  the  Third  Ohio  and  Sixty-eighth  Indiana.  The 
lads  went  in  gallantly,  and  a  sharp  night  engagement  en- 
sued, resulting  in  the  complete  rout  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
capture  of  a  number  of  prisoners.  Our  troops  held  the 
work,  and  this  morning  the  enemy  were  not  at  Murfrees- 
boro.  They  had  fled. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  125 

"  The  battle  of  Stone  River  will  ever  be  distinguished 
as  one  of  the  most  obstinately  contested  of  the  war.  The 
strength  of  the  hostile  armies  was  about  equal.  There  may 
have  been  a  slight  disparity  of  numbers  in  our  favor,  but  this 
is  doubtful.  We  had  prisoners  representing  about  eighty 
regiments,  from  all  the  rebellious  States.  But  whatever 
disparity,  if  any,  of  numbers  there  was  in  our  favor,  was 
more  than  equalized  by  choice  of  position." 

General  Rousseau  commanding  the  reserves,  when  press- 
ing forward  into  the  cedars,  whose  funereal  gloom  made 
the  terrible  combat  emphatically  like  a  fight  in  Pandemo- 
nium, to  cover  Sheridan  and  Negley's  retreat  through  the 
gloomy  shadows  filled  with  death,  said  with  a  startling, 
and,  but  for  its  truthfulness,  profane  emphasis  :  c'  I  knew 
it  was  hell  in  there  before  I  got  in,  but  I  was  convinced 
of  it  when  I  saw  Phil  Sheridan,  with  hat  in  one  hand  and 
sword  in  the  other,  fighting  as  if  he  were  the  devil  incar- 
nate, or  had  had  a  fresh  indulgence  from  Father  Tracy 
every  five  minutes."  Father  Tracy  was  Rosecrans'  chap- 
lain, and  often  officiated  at  Sheridan's  headquarters 
Sheridan  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

When  Sheridan  had  extricated  his  command  from  the 
forest  and  got  in  line  with  the  reserves,  he  rode  up  to  Rose- 
crans,  and,  pointing  to  the  remnant  of  his  division,  said, 
"  Here  is  all  that  is  left  of  us,  General.  Our  cartridge- 
boxes  contain  nothing,  and  our  guns  are  empty." 

In  his  report  of  the  struggle,  General  Rosecrans  say» 


.26  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

of  •  IT  heroic  General :  "  Sheridan,  after  sustaining  foul 
sue*  esjive  attacks,  gradually  swung  his  right  from  a  south- 
easter^ to  northwesterly  direction,  repulsing  the  enemy 
four  times,  losing  the  gallant  General  Sill  of  his  right  and 
Colonel  Roberts  of  his  left  brigade,  when,  having  ex- 
hausted his  ammunition — Negley's  division  being  in  the 
same  predicament,  and  heavily  pressed — after  desperate 
fighting,  they  fell  back  from  the  position  held  at  the  com- 
mencement, through  the  cedar  woods,  in  which  Rosseau's 
division,  with  a  portion  of  Negley's  and  Sheridan's,  met 
the  advancing  enemy  and  checked  his  movements.  For 
distinguished  acts  of  individual  zeal,  heroism,  gallantry, 
and  good  conduct,  I  refer  to  the  accompanying  list  of 
special  mentions  and  recommendations  for  promotion, 
wherein  are  named  some  of  the  many  noble  men  who 
have  distinguished  themselves  and  done  honor  to  their 
country  and  the  starry  symbol  of  its  unity.  But  those 
named  there  are  by  no  means  all  whose  names  will  be 
inscribed  on  the  rolls  of  honor  we  are  preparing,  and  hope 
to  have  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  our  countrymen. 
To  say  that  such  men  as  Major-Gen.  G.  H.  Thomas,  true 
and  prudent,  distinguished  in  council  and  on  many  battle- 
fields for  his  courage ;  or  Major-General  McCook,  a 
tried,  faithful,  and  loyal  soldier,  who  bravely  breasted 
battle  at  Shiloh  and  at  Perryville,  and  as  bravely  on  the 
bloody  field  of  Stone  River ;  and  Major-General  Thomas 
L.  Crittenden,  whose  heart  is  that  of  a  true  soldier  and 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  127 

patriot,  and  whose  gallantry,  often  attested  by  his  com- 
panions in  arms  in  other  fields,  witnessed  many  times  in 
this  army  long  before  I  had  the  honor  to  command  it, 
never  more  conspicuously  than  in  this  combat,  maintained 
their  high  character  throughout  this  action,  but  feebly  ex- 
presses my  feeling  of  obligation  to  them  for  counsel  and 
support  from  the  time  of  my  arrival  to  the  present  hour. 
I  doubly  thank  them,  as  well  as  the  gallant,  ever-ready 
Major-General  Rousseau,  for  their  support  in  this  battle. 
Brigadier-General  D.  S.  Stanley,  already  distinguished 
for  four  successful  battles — Island  No.  Ten,  May  27th, 
before  Corinth,  luka,  and  the  battle  of  Corinth — at  this 
time  in  command  of  our  ten  regiments  of  cavalry,  fought 
the  enemy's  forty  regiments  of  cavalry,  and  held  them  at 
bay,  and  beat  them  wherever  he  could  meet  them.  He 
ought  to  be  made  a  major-general  for  his  services,  and 
also  for  the  good  of  the  service.  As  for  such  brigadiers 
as  Negley,  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  Johnson,  Palmer,  Hascal, 
Van  Cleve,  Wood,  Mitchell,  Cruft,  and  Sheridan,  they 
ought  to  be  made  major-generals  in  our  service." 

The  recommendation  to  higher  duty  and  honors  was 
heartily  responded  to  by  our  noble  President.  The  nom- 
ination of  General  Sheridan  to  a  major-generalship  was 
made  and  confirmed  by  the  Senate  the  last  day  of  the 
e  rentful  year  1862. 


CHAPTER  VH. 


^ie  condition  of  the  National  Cause  —  General  Sheridan's  Movements  —  Raiding 
and  Drilling—  Other  Cavalry  Operations  at  this  time—  Generals  Stoneman, 
Buford,  and  Kilpatrick  —  The  great  Kaid  on  Richmond  —  A  curious  Incident. 


the  dawn  of  1863  we  find  the  Union  cause 
under  the  cloud  of  gloomy  apprehension,  to  a 
large  portion  of  the  people.  General  Burnside 
had  been  defeated  at  Fredericksburg  ;  General 
Grant's  campaign  against  Vicksburg,  made  a 
failure  by  the  cowardly  surrender  of  Holly  Springs,  com- 
pelled him  to  pause,  while  General  Sherman  attempted 
alone  an  assault,  in  anticipation  of  his  arrival,  and  signally 
failed  for  lack  of  sufficient  force.  The  defeat  of  the  rebels 
at  Stone  River  was  too  expensive  to  the  Union  troops  to 
relieve  the  darkness.  Still  there  were  many  in  and  out 
of  the  army  whose  courage  and  hope  remained  unbroken. 
The  brave  "boys"  prepared  for  new  campaigns  with  the 
approaching  spring. 

In  March,  1863,  General   Sheridan   went  galloping 
along  the  enemy's  lines,  leading  his  troopers  to  the  very 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  129 

outposts  of  their  encampment,  reconnoitring,  snatching 
up  prisoners,  skirmishing,  and  driving  back  cavalry  forces 
which  crossed  his  path,  and  returning,  after  a  most  suc- 
cessful expedition,  with  only  five  killed  and  the  same 
number  wounded.  The  lull  in  activity  which  followed  for 
two  months  in  his  department,  was  improved  by  untiring 
attention  to  the  discipline  of  his  troops,  preparatory  to  a 
grand  movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Mean- 
while the  attempts  made  by  General  Grant's  command 
through  the  canals  and  bayous  to  reach  Vicksburg  had 
been  abandoned,  and  he  began  the  splendid  campaign 
overland  to  the  rear  of  the  city,  which  resulted  in  its  cap- 
ture on  the  4th  of  July. 

To  aid  in  the  bold  movement,  it  was  desirable  to  cut 
the  rebel  communications  with  Vicksburg  to  prevent  an 
attack  behind,  should  he  invest  the  place.  For  this 
perilous  adventure  General  Grant  detailed  Colonel  B.  H 
Grierson,  of  the  First  Cavalry  brigade.  One  of  the 
greatest  feats  of  our  horsemen  during  the  war  was  per- 
formed in  this  expedition,  and  deserves  a  notice  here. 

The  brigade,  which  consisted  of  Illinois  and  Iowa 
troops,  started  from  La  Grange,  Tennessee,  April  17th, 
1863.  at  two  o  clock  in  the  morning.  Away  they  ride  fV>" 
the  railways,  and  across  forests,  open  fields,  and  ingntiil 
swamps  ;  now  flying  yonder,  to  deceive  the  rebels  in  re- 
gard to  the  real  design,  and  then  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion, tearing  up  a  track,  capturing  a  train,  or  burnmjr  « 


130  LIFE   OF   GENEEAL    SHERIDAN. 

mill.  Amusing  scenes  enlivened  the  raiders'  wild  career. 
Some  of  them,  stopping  at  a  wealthy  planter's  house,  who 
was  also  a  guerrilla,  passed  themselves  off  as  Van  Dora's 
men  ;  for  many  of  our  soldiers,  in  these  adventures,  woi  e 
*'  secesh"  uniforms.  Finding  splendid  horses  in  his  barn, 
they  began  to  change  the  saddles  from  their  tried  steeds 
to  the  backs  of  his. 

"  Can't  spare  'em,  gentlemen !  can't  let  these  horses 
go  !  "  protested  the  planter. 

u  We  must  have  them.  You  want  us  to  catch  the 
Yankees,  and  we  shall  have  to  hurry  to  do  it,"  replied 
the  raiders. 

"  All  right,  gentlemen  ;  I'll  keep  your  animals  till  you 
return.  I  suppose  you'll  be  back  in  two  or  three  days  at 
the  farthest.  When  you  return,  you'll  find  they  have 
been  well  cared  for." 

The  guerrilla  is  probably  waiting  still  for  his  friends 
and  horses. 

A  young  lady  thus  complains  :  "  The  first  thing  they 
did  was  to  carry  off  Lizzie's  buggy.  They  broke  into  the 
storeroom  and  took  sister  Emily's  wine,  which  they  car- 
ried away  and  drank  the  next  morning.  As  we  sat  quietly 
awaiting  our  fate,  still  hoping  that  God — in  whose  care 
Zila  had  at  the  beginning  placed  us,  kneeling  with  us  in 
earnest  prayer — would  yet  save  us,  we  heard  them  danc- 
ing, whooping,  breaking,  and  plundering  away  over  the 
house.  They  stole  all  my  jewelry  ;  they  broke  all  sister 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  131 

Emily's  pictures.     Nan  [a  servant]  was  very  much  dis- 
tressed at  their  taking  the  blankets." 

.  Poor  girl !  we  smile  at  and  pity  her.  War  is  no  re- 
specter of  persons,  nor  very  particular  about  the  amount 
of  damage  done  along  his  path. 

East,  northwest,  and  south  the  forces  dash,  apparently 
without  order,  and  yet  according  to  a  well-matured  plan. 
The  main  body  of  cavalry  presses  on,  to  cut  a  path 
through  to  our  lines  near  New  Orleans.  Rebel  camps 
are  destroyed  ;  and,  when  hotly  pursued,  Colonel  Grierson 
dashes  on  a  bridge,  and  burning  it  behind  him,  gains  time 
to  escape.  Thus  hurried  along  the  troopers  till  the  22 d, 
when  the  march  was  indeed  "  terrible,  because  the  swamps 
of  the  Okanoxubee  River  were  overflowed.  After  moving 
four  miles  south  of  Louisville,  they  marched  a  distance 
of  eight  miles  through  a  swamp.  On  each  side  of  the 
road  were  enormous  trees,  and  the  water  was,  every- 
where, from  three  to  four  feet  deep  ;  with  every  few  hun- 
dred yards  a  mire-hole  in  which  frequently,  for  a  few 
moments,  man  and  horse  were  lost  to  view.  The  Seventh 
Illinois  being  in  the  rear,  found  these  holes  almost  impas- 
sable, from  the  action  of  the  large  body  of  cavalry  which 
had  preceded  them,  and  they  were  compelled  to  leave, 
drowned  some  twenty  noble  animals,  whose  strength  was 
not  equal  to  such  an  emergency.  The  men  so  dismounted 
amoved  their  saddles,  placed  them  on  some  other  led 
beasts,  and  pushed  onward  cheerfully. 


132  LLFE  OF  GENERAL  SHEKIDAN. 

•  "  On  the  23d  they  broke  camp  at  seven  o'clock  A.  M., 
crossed  the  Pearl  River  at  half-past  four  p.  M.,  and  took 
refreshments  at  Squire  Payne's.  A  glance  at  the  map 
will  show  the  importance  of  Pearl  River.  Knowing  it 
to  be  quite  high  from  heavy  rains,  and  aware  also  that  as 
rebel  scouts  had  preceded  them,  it  was  of  the  utmost  con- 
sequence to  secure  Pearl  River  bridge,  Colonel  Prince, 
who  was  in  advance  with  the  Seventh  Illinois,  pushed  for- 
ward with  energy,  and,  by  very  fast  riding,  succeeded  in 
getting  to  the  bridge  and  driving  away  a  picket,  before 
they  had  time  to  tear  up  more  than  a  few  planks,  which 
were  replaced  in  a  few  minutes.  The  gallant  colonel  de- 
voutly speaks  of  this  as  one  of  the  many  instances  in 
which  a  divine  Providence  seemed  to  be  shielding^them 
during  their  whole  perilous  journey ;  for  the  destruction 
of  this  bridge  would  have  been,  in  all  probability,  fatal  to 
the  whole  expedition. 

"  Although  Colonel  Prince  on  the  27th  had  marched 
his  regiment  forty-one  miles,  during  a  large  portion  of  the 
time  through  drenching  rain,  he  firmly  believed  that,  as 
the  citizens  were  arming  themselves,  and  the  news  about 
them  was  flying  in  all  directions,  it  was  a  matter  of  life 
and  death  that  Pearl  River  should  be  crossed,  and  the 
New  Orleans  and  Jackson  Railroad  reached  without  any 
delay  whatever.  He  therefore  obtained  permission  from 
Colonel  Grierson  to  move  directly  forward  with  two  hun- 
dred picked  men  of  his  regiment,  to  secure  the  ferry 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  133 

across  Pearl  River  before  the  enemy  should  be  able  to 
destroy  it.  The  distance  to  the  river  was  thirteen  miles, 
and  froni  there  to  Hazlehurst's  Station  was  twelve  miles. 
The  remainder  of  the  two  regiments  were  to  come  for- 
ward as  soon  as  they  were  sufficiently  rested. 

"  Colonel  Prince  started  with  the  two  hundred  at  one 
A.  M.,  and  reached  the  bank  of  the  river  before  daylight, 
when,  contrary  to  his  information,  the  flat-boat  was  upon 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Not  daring  to  call  out,  he 
spoke  to  a  volunteer,  who,  with  a  powerful  horse,  under- 
took to  swim  the  river ;  but  the  rapidity  of  the  swollen 
stream  carried  him  below  the  landing,  where  there  was  a 
quicksand,  and  he  barely  returned  to  shore  with  his  life. 

"  A  few  moments  later  a  man  came  down  from  the 
house  toward  the  river,  and,  in  true  North  Carolina  ac- 
cent, asked,  in  a  careless  way,  if  we  wanted  to  cross  ;  to 
which  he  got  a  reply — in  a  very  capital  imitation*of  his 
twang — that  a  few  of  them  did  want  to  go  across,  and 
that  it  seemed  harder  to  wake  up  his  nigger  ferryman 
than  to  catch  the  conscripts.  The  proprietor  took  the 
bait,  apologized  for  the  detention,  and  woke  up  his  ferry- 
man, who  immediately  brought  over  the  boat,  which 
thenceforward  became  the  property  of  Uncle  Sam — the 
proprietor  all  the  while  believing  he  was  lavishing  his  at- 
tentions on  the  First  regiment  of  Alabama  cavalry,  fresh 
from  Mobile  !  The  breakfast  given  to  the  Alabama  col- 
onel that  morning  was  highly  relished  and  appreciated  j 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

but  too  much  time  was  not  spent  over  it,  and  the  import- 

c 

ance  of  speed  was  clearly  proved,  only  half  an  hour  after- 
ward, when  they  caught  a  courier  flying  to  the  ferry  with 
the  news  that  the  Yankees  were  coming,  and  that  all  the 
ferries  were  to  be  immediately  destroyed. 

"  At  Hazle hurst  station,  Colonel  Prince  succeeded  in 
capturing  a  large  number  of  cars,  four  or  five  being 
loaded  with  shell  and  ammunition,  and  others  with  army 
stores.  The  whole  of  this  property  was  utterly  destroyed. 

"  And  here  comes  one  of  the  most  amusing  episodes 
of  the  whole  affair.  Captain  Forbes,  who  had  been  sent 
to  Macon  from  near  Starkville,  rejoined  the  command 
just  as  they  had  all  crossed  Pearl  River.  Having  been 
unable  to  take  Macon,  he  followed  their  trail  to  Newton, 
where  he  was  informed  that  they  had  gone  to  Enterprise, 
on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad.  He  followed  on  to 
that  place,  and  marched  with  his  little  squad  into  town, 
where  he  found  about  three  thousand  rebel  troops  just 
getting  off  the  cars.  He  promptly  raised  a  flag  of  truce, 
and  boldly  rode  forward,  demanding  the  surrender  of  the 
place,  in  the  name  of  Colonel  Grierson.  The  command- 
ing rebel  officer,  Colonel  Goodwin,  asked  one  hour  to  con- 
sider the  proposition,  and  wished  to  know  where  Captain 
Forbes  would  be  at  that  time.  The  Captain  answered 
that  he  would  go  back  with  the  reply  to  the  reserve ; 
which  he  did  pretty  rapidly,  after  having  shrewdly  ascer- 
tained the  strengh  of  the  enemy.  It  is  not  known  whether 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  135 

Enterprise  ever  surrendered  or  not,  or  whether  the  rebel 
colonel  is  still  trying  to  find  the  'reserve'  to  make  his 
penitent  bow ;  but  one  thing  is  certain,  thaf  Captain 
Forbes,  with  his  little  squad  of  thirty-five  men,  did  not 
intend  to  take  those  three  thousand  rebels  prisoners — that 
time  at  least — and  was  laughing  in  his  sleeve  many  miles 
off  while  those  Enterprise-ing  people  were  trembling  in 
their  boots — id  est,  if,  at  the  present  fabulous  price  of 
leather,  they  had  any  boots  to  tremble  in. 

"  The  Mobile  Register  of  the  28th,  in  the  depth  of  its 
consternation  and  chagrin,  treats  this  ridiculous  sell  with 
the  most  absurd  and  amusing  gravity.  '  The  only  thing 
satisfactorily  explained/  says  the  oracular  Register,  'is 
that  they  ran  away  from  Enterprise  as  soon  as  they 
heard  that  "Old  Blizzard"  was  about.'  The  Register 
little  thought  that  it  was  only  thirty-five  brave  fellows 
whom  its  terrified  imagination  had  converted  into  '  one 
thousand  five  hundred  Yankees.' 

"  On  May  1st  they  left  camp  at  daylight,  and  proceed- 
ing in  a  southwesterly  direction  through  the  woods,  with- 
out regard  to  roads,  came  into  the  Clinton  and  Osyka 
road,  near  a  bridge  four  miles  northeast  of  Wall's  post- 
office.  About  eighty  of  the  enemy  were  lying  in  ambush 
near  the  bridge.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Blackburn,  unfor- 
tunately with  more  bravery  than  discretion,  proceeded 
across  the  bridge  at  the  head  of  the.  scouts  and  of  com- 
pany  G,  Seventh  Illinois.  He  was  seriously  wounded  in 


136  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

the  thigh,  and  slightly  in  the  head.  Colonel  Prince  im- 
mediately caused  his  men  to  dismount,  to  skirmish  the 
enemy  out  of  the  bushes,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Cap- 
tain Smith's  battery,  soon  put  them  to  flight. 

u  This  affair  at  the  bridge  detained  the  column  but  a 
few  minutes.  They  marched  all  night,  and  crossed  the 
Amite  River  about  ten  p.  M.,  without  opposition,  the 
picket  being  asleep.  They  had  marched  forty  miles  this 
day.  They  marched  again  early  on  the  morning  of  May 
2d,  aud  the  Sixth  Illinois  being  in  advance,  surprised  and 
burned  a  rebel  camp  at  Sandy  Creek  bridge.  At  this 
point  the  Seventh  Illinois  was  ordered  in  advance,  and, 
at  about  nine  A.  M.,  as  a  crowning  glory  to  this  most  ex- 
traordinary series  of  adventures,  captured  forty-two 
of  Stewart's  Mississippi  cavalry  on  Comite  River,  in- 
cluding their  colonel. 

"  This  noble  band  of  toil-worn  heroes  arrived  at  Baton 
Rogue  about  noon  of  May  2d,  where  their  triumphal  entry 
created  a  furore  of  joyful  excitement  that  will  not  cease 
till  it  has  thrilled  every  loyal  heart  upon  this  continent — 
aye,  every  heart  that  loves  liberty  and  human  bravery 
throughout  the  civilized  world. 

"  Some  idea  of  the  pluck  and  endurance  of  these  men 
can  be  gleaned  from  the  fact  that  during  the  last  thirty 
hours,  in  which  they  had  ridden  eighty  miles,  fought  two 
or  three  skirmishes,  destroyed  bridges,  camps,  equipages, 
etc.,  swam  a  river  and  captured  forty-two  prisoners  and 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  137 

a  large  number  of  horses,  they  had  scarcely  halted  at 
all,  and  went  through  these  terrific  exertions  without 
food  for  man  or  beast !  During  the  last  night  it  was  ob- 
served that  nearly  the  entire  column,  worn  out  almost 
beyond  human  endurance,  were  fast  asleep  upon  horse- 
back, except  when  the  sharp  report  of  a  carbine  told  of 
the  nearness  of  the  enemy.  And  all  this  was  rendered 
without  one  word  of  murmur  or  complaint  from  any  lip, 
either  of  officers  or  privates." 

In  fifteen  days  eight  hundred  miles  had  been  travelled, 
four  million  dollars'  worth  of  property  destroyed,  and  the 
alarming,  humbling  fact  forced  home  on  the  heart  of  the 
f<3e,  that  the  moment  of  fancied  security  might  be  that  of 
the  greatest  danger.  The  news  cheered  not  only  the 
advancing  host  of  General  Grant,  but  also  the  impatient 
legions  of  the  Cumberland  army,  getting  ready  to  move, 
with  the  chivalrous  Sheridan's  horsemen  to  emulate  such 
daring  and  success. 

During  the  very  \»st  days  of  Colonel  Grierson's  march, 
General  George  Stoneman,  chief  of  cavalry  in  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  was  dashing  on  to  Richmond  to  do  a 
similar  work  for  Hooker,  who  was  about  to  move  on  the 
enemy,  which  the  former  had  accomplished  for  Grant — 
i.  e.,  cut  the  communications  between  the  army  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  and  the  capital.  In  this  grand  ride  through 
Virginia,  General  John  Buford  was  one  of  the  most  gal- 
lant leaders.  He  and  Stoneman  graduated  at  the  Military 


138  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

Academy  at  West  Point ;  the  former  two  years  before 
Sheridan  entered  that  institution,  the  latter  in  1848,  the 
very  summer  of  his  admission.  These  three,  with  Kil- 
patrick,  also  with  Stoneman  and  after  with  Sherman, 
form  a  splendid  quartette  of  cavalry  chiefs,  whose  names 
will  ever  shine  on  the  record  of  national  victories  while 
our  flag  floats  in  the  breeze. 

General  Buford  was  a  Kentuckian,  born  in  1827.  He 
was  a  finished  horseman  and  officer — a  generous,  high- 
minded,  loyal  man  ;  and  died  in  his  prime  at  Washington, 
December  16th,  1863,  of  pneumonia  and  typhoid  fever, 
contracted  in  his  exhausting  marches  and  exposure,  uni- 
versally lamented.  He  was  a  kind,  humane  commander. 
After  a  day's  toilsome  ride  he  not  unfrequently,  in  a  wild 
thunder  storm,  would  rise  from  a  brief  repose  to  rub 
down  and  protect  the  noble  animals  which  bore  their 
weary  riders  safely  over  hostile  soil. 

General  Stoneman  was  born  at  Burtis,  Chatauque 
County,  N.  Y.,  August  8,  1822,  and,  like  General  Sher- 
idan, went  soon  after  his  graduation  to  the  Pacific  coast. 
When  the  rebellion  thundered  forth  its  challenge  to  free- 
dom in  Charleston  harbor,  he  was  in  command  of  Fort 
Brown  in  Texas,  whose  surrender  was  demanded  by 
General  Twiggs  of  the  rebel  army.  The  heroic  Stone- 
man promptly,  indignantly  refused.  Learning  that  it 
was  determined  to  withdraw  the  Union  forces  from  the 
State,  he  immediately  chartered  a  steamer,  taking  with 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEBIDAN.  139 

him  whatever  he  could  convey  of  the  Government  prop- 
erty, and  reached  New  York  the  middle  of  March.  The 
following  June  he  was  major  of  the  cavalry,  and  in  Au- 
gust, 1861,  brigadier  and  chief  of  cavalry.  He  is  a  noble 
officer  and  man. 

In  the  raid  to  cooperate  with  General  Hooker,  while 
Sheridan  was  drilling  his  brigade  for  brilliant  work  at 
hand  in  his  department,  there  was  some  of  the  most  ro- 
mantic, perilous,  and  successful  riding  in  the  annals  of 
the  cavalry.  One  who  rode  in  this  wild  gallop  says  of 
the  affair,  which  was  fairly  opened  by  crossing  the  R-ap- 
pahannock : 

"  General  Stoneman,  with  the  bulk  of  his  command, 
remained  near  Kelly's  ford  until  nightfall,  when  the 
order  to  march  was  given,  and  the  whole  force  crossed 
and  bivouacked  a  short  distance  beyond  a  little  rivulet, 
now  much  swollen  by  the  recent  rains,  known  as  Flesh- 
man's  River.  Here,  in  an  open  ploughed  field,  the  troops 
slept  soundly,  without  other  protection  from  a  cold,  piti- 
less rain-storm  that  prevailed  all  night,  than  that  afforded 
by  their  blankets  and  rubber  cloths.  The  night  was 
dreary  in  the  extreme.  All  fires  were  prohibited,  all 
bugle  calls  were  suspended,  and  orders  were  delivered 
Botto  voice,  so  that  the  enemy  should  have  no  opportunity 
whatever  of  judging  of  the  number  or  position  of  the 
force.  These  precautions  were  carefully  observed  dur- 
ing the  nine  days'  campaign,  and  to  this  may  be  a</- 


140  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   8HEKIDAN. 

tributed  in  part  the  success  of  the   enterprise  with   so 
little  loss. 

"  Thursday  morning,  April  30th,  the  whole  command 
was  aroused  from  slumber  before  daylight ;  after  a  little 
shaking  and  wringing,  'boots  and  saddle'  was  whispered 
to  the  different  commanders,  and  we  were  soon  upon  the 
road  again.  The  facility  with  which  man  adapts  himself 
to  any  circumstances,  particularly  if  a  little  disagreeable 
in  point  of  fact,  was  exemplified  that  morning.  The 
night  had  been  cold  and  wet,  just  about  as  disagreeable 
weather  as  one  meets  during  a  lifetime,  and  nearly  every- 
body was  drenched  to  the  skin,  and  yet  not  a  man  could 
have  been  found  willing  to  own  that  he  was  in  any  way 
uncomfortable.  In  fact,  the  comfortable  night's  rest  ob- 
tained in  three  inches  of  mud  and  water,  was  the  boast 
of  every  one.  '  Never  slept  better  in  my  life,'  said  a 
gentleman  of  the  medical  persuasion,  who  had  just  wrung 
the  water  out  of  his  blankets  and  seated  himself  in  a 
soaked  saddle,  and  who  the  day  before  was  suffering  the 
torment  of  rheumatic  pains  from  head  to  foot.  What  the 
worthy  doctor  expressed,  all  experienced.  Our  pickets 
were  charged  upon  during  the  night  by  strolling  rebel 
cavalry,  but  the  camp  was  not  alarmed  ;  in  fact,  the  affair 
was  not  generally  known  in  camp.  The  same  movement 
was  repeated  at  early  dawn,  without  damage.  Our  troops 
are  quite  conscious  of  their  strength,  and  will  not  easily 
be  scared  from  their  purpose.  The  command,  which  had 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  141 

before  been  culled  of  all  sick  men  and  doubtful  horses, 
was  culled  again  to-day,  and  all  pack  animals  save  about 
twenty,  all  weak  horses,  and  all  sick  or  weak-kneed 
troops  were  sent  back  across  the  river.  The  approach 
of  the  force  had  been  heralded,  but  no  one  believed  it. 
The  man  who  went  to  the  trouble  of  riding  ten  miles  to 
give  the  inhabitants  notice,  was  almost  mobbed  by  the 
people — they  doubted  his  sanity.  '  What !  Yankees  near 
Columbia  ? '  said  one  citizen.  ;  It  is  impossible  ;  Jeff 
Davis  would  not  permit  such  an  invasion  *  of  the  sacred 
soil.  The  furnisher  of  the  unwelcome  news  had  dirt 
thrown  at  him,  was  hooted  at,  and  followed  by  a  crowd 
of  excited  people,  who  were  threatening  him  with  all 
sorts  of  vengeance,  just  as  the  advance-guard  of  Colonel 
"Wyndham's  force,  under  Major  Beaumont,  dashed  into 
town.  There  were  no  soldiers  there.  A  dozen  or  more 
citizens  succeeded  in  escaping  across  the  river,  and  spread- 
ing the  astounding  intelligence,  and  soon  after  a  squad  of 
troopers  appeared  in  the  distance  on  the  opposite  bank. 
The  people  south  of  the  river  did  not  believe  the  story 
told  by  the  fugitives.  One  man  rode  with  his  servant 
down  to  the  river-bank  to  see  for  himself.  The  servant 
seized  upon  the  opportunity  to  ride  into  our  lines.  He 
was  not  pursued.  A  planter  sent  a  son  mounted  on  a 
valuable  horse  to  ascertain  the  news,  believing  the  force 
to  be  Stuart's  cavalry.  The  boy  asked  an  officer  if  the 
Yankees  had  been  whipped,  and  was  told  that  they  had. 


142  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

He  expressed  his  satisfaction,  and  was  about  leaving, 
when  the  officer  told  him  he  wanted  a  horse,  his  own  wag 
jaded.  An  exchange  was  speedily  made.  The  boy  was 
evidently  somewhat  puzzled  at  this  summary  proceeding, 
but  thought  it  all  right  no  doubt,  as  it  was  Stuart's  cav- 
alry, and  he  rode  off  to  tell  his  father  the  news.  A  negro 
who  manifested  some  joyful  emotion  upon  hearing  that 
the  Yankees  were  coming,  was  severely  whipped  by  his 
master  just  below  Columbia,  a  few  hours  before  we 
reached  the  spot.  The  negro,  upon  being  released,  re- 
iterated his  former  expression,  and  an  attempt  was  made 
to  whip  him  again.  But  he  escaped,  jumped  into  the 
river,  and  was  drowned.  The  old  negro  preacher  on  the 
plantation  where  the  above  occurred,  told  me  that  his 
master  4  cursed  de  Yankees  cause  dey  made  'im  loss  a 
fifteen-hundred-dollar  nigger.' 

"  General  Stoneman  moved  about  within  the  enemy's 
lines  at  will  for  nine  days,  with  a  force  not  exceeding  five 
thousand  men  ;  disabled  every  line  of  communication  be- 
tween the  army  of  the  Rappahannock  and  the  rebel  cap- 
ital, and  the  canal  through  which  more  than  one-half  of 
their  supplies  were  received — so  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
competent  judges,  neither  line,  provided  the  rebels  have 
every  facility  for  the  work,  could  be  repaired  in  less  than 
four  weeks  ;  destroyed  millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  com- 
missary stores,  and  other  supplies  ;  obstructed  travel 
upon  the  main  pikes,  by  destroying  all  bridges  over  large 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  143 

streams  ;  gave  the  citizens  of  ten  counties,  namely,  Cul- 
pepper,  Spottsylvania,  Orange,  Hanover,  Henrico,  Louisa, 
Goochland,  Fluvanna,  King  William,  and  New  Kent,  au 
opportunity  to  see  for  themselves  that  not  only  are  the 
Yankee  soldiers  confident  and  in  good  spirits,  but  are 
really  human  beings  and  not  inhuman  savages,  as  repre- 
sented by  the  Richmond  chivalry  ;  captured  hundreds  of 
horses,  and,  above  all,  met  the  one  great  objection  made 
to  the  Emancipation  Proclamation,  so  far  as  the  counties 
visited  are  concerned,  by  letting  the  colored  population 
know  that  they  are  free,  and  weakening  the  producing 
class  in  rebeldom  by  the  removal  of  hundreds  of  able- 
bodied  men,  and  sowing  the  seed  of  demoralization  among 
the  rest,  so  that  the  laboring  class,  in  fact  as  well  as  the- 
ory, becomes  a  dangerous  element.  All  this  has  been  ac- 
complished by  the  raid  of  General  Stoneman,  with  the 
loss,  probably,  of  less  than  one  hundred  men,  only  two 
of  whom  were  killed.  As  an  offset  to  this  loss,  our 
troops  killed  a  number  of  rebels,  and  captured  between 
one  and  two  hundred  prisoners." 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  work  accomplished 
by  General  Stoneman's  expedition  :  Bridges  destroyed,  22  ; 
culverts  do.,  7  ;  ferries  do.,  5  ,  railroads  broken,  places,  7  ; 
supply  trains  burned,  4  ;  wagons  destroyed,  122  ;  horses 
captured,  200  ;  mules  do.,  104  ;  canals  broken,  3  ;  canal 
boats  burned,  5  ;  trains  of  cars  destroyed,  3  ;  storehouses 
burned,  2  ;  telegraph  stations  do.,  4  ;  wires  cut,  places, 


144  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

5 ;   depots  burned,  3 ;    towns  visited,   25 ;   contrabands 
liberated,  150. 

General  Stoneman  was  within  the  enemy's  fortifica- 
tions, and  gave  Richmond  such  a  fright  as  never  befor 
spread  paleness  on  the  faces  of  the  chivalry  of  the  Con- 
federacy.    Among  the  curious  incidents  which  marked 
the  course  of  the  raid,  the  following  is  very  striking : 

"  In  the  movement  of  Stoneman's  cavalry  the  advance 
was  led  by  Lieutenant  Paine,  of  the  First  Maine  cavalry. 
Being  separated  by  a  considerable  distance  from  the  main 
body,  he  encountered  unexpectedly  a  superior  force  of 
rebel  cavalry,  and  his  whole  party  were  taken  prisoners. 
They  were  hurried  off  as  rapidly  as  possible,  to  get  them 
out  of  the  way  of  our  advancing  force,  and  in  crossing  a 
rapid  and  deep  stream  Lieutenant  Henry,  commanding 
the  rebel  force,  was  swept  off  his  horse.  As  none  of  his 
men  seemed  to  think  or  care  any  thing  about  saving  him, 
his  prisoner,  Lieutenant  Paine,  leaped  off  his  horse,  seized 
the  drowning  man  by  the  collar,  swam  ashore  with  him, 
and  saved  his  life,  thus  literally  capturing  his  captor.  He 
was  sent  to  Richmond  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  and 
the  facts  being  made  known  to  General  Fitz-Hugh  Lee, 
he  wrote  a  statement  of  them  to  General  Winder,  the 
Provost-Marshal  of  Richmond,  who  ordered  the  instant 
release  of  Lieutenant  Paine,  without  even  parole,  prom- 
ise, or  condition,  and,  we  presume,  with  the  compliments 
of  the  Confederacy.  He  arrived  at  Washington  safely 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  145 

This  act  of  generosity  as  well  as  justice  must  command 
our  highest  admiration.  There  is  some  hope  for  men 
who  can  behave  in  such  a  manner. 

"  But  the  strangest  part  of  the  story  is  yet  to  come. 
Lieutenant  Paine,  on  arriving  in  Washington,  learned  that 
the  officer  whose  life  he  had  thus  gallantly  saved  had  since 
been  taken  prisoner  by  our  forces,  and  had  just  been  con- 
fined in  the  Old  Capitol  Prison.  The  last  we  heard  of 
him  he  was  on  his  way  to  General  Martindale's  head- 
quarters, to  obtain  a  pass  to  visit  his  beneficiary  and  ben- 
efactor. Such  are  the  vicissitudes  of  war." 


10 


CHAPTER 


Tbe  Summer  Army  "Work  —  The  Advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland- 
Sheridan's  Position  —  Liberty  Gap—  On  to  Chattanooga—  Chickamaugft— 
The  Deadly  Conflict—  The  Pause  in  the  Strife. 

month  of  May  was  distinguished  for  two  im- 
portant results  in  the  movements  of  the  armies 
—  the  defeat  of  General  Hooker  at  Chancellors- 
ville,  and  the  successful  arrival  of  General 
Grant's  army  at  Vicksburg,  investing  that 
stronghold  of  rebellion  in  the  southwest. 

June  23d,  General  Rosecrans  set  the  army-front 
toward  Chattanooga.  His  rendezvous,  you  recollect, 
was  at  Murfreesboro,  and  his  grand  object  directly  in 
view  was  to  drive  the  rebels  from  Middle  Tennessee. 
Their  main  base  of  supplies  was  at  Chattanooga,  which 
you  will  see  by  the  map  lies  southeast  of  Murfreesboro, 
and  near  the  Georgia  boundary.  Bragg's  army  lay  in- 
trenched north  of  Duck  River,  from  Shelbyville  to  War- 
trace,  McMinnsville,  Columbia,  and  Spring  Hill.  Be- 
tween Murfreesboro  and  his  lines  were  rocky  heights, 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  147 

through  which  were  passes  for  the  routes  of  travel  called 
Hoover's  Gap,  Liberty  Gap,  and  Guy's  Gap,  all  held  by 
the  rebels. 

Sheridan  was  in  General  McCook's  corps,  which  moved 
along  the  Shelbyville  road,  and  was  to  advance  on  Liberty 
Gap,  "  one  of  the  keys  to  the  rebel  position/'  The  brave 
Stanley's  cavalry,  supported  by  General  Granger's  infantry, 
hurried  forward  to  Guy's  Gap.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents, 
but  with  cheerful  courage  the  cavalry  led  toward  the  brist- 
ling passes  and  the  defiant  army  of  Bragg,  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  "  dragging,"  says  General  Rosecrans,  "  their 
artillery  and  themselves  through  the  mud  into  position.  It 
is  a  singular  characteristic  of  the  soil  on  the  '  barrens,' 
that  it  becomes  so  soft  and  spongy  that  wagons  cut  into  it 
as  if  it  were  a  swamp,  and  even  horses  cannot  pass  over 
it  without  similar  results.  The  terrible  effect  of  the  rains 
on  the  passage  of  our  troops  may  be  inferred  from  the 
single  tact  that  General  Crittenden  required  four  days  of 
incessant  labor  to  advance  the  distance  of  twenty-one 
miles. 

"  While  the  troops  were  thus  moving  into  position, 
General  Thomas  sent  Steadman's  brigade  of  Brannan's 
division,  two  regiments  of  Reynolds'  division,  and  two 
regiments  of  Negley's  division,  on  separate  roads,  to  re- 
connoitre the  enemy's  position,  while  General  Sheridan 
sent  Bradley's  brigade  of  his  own  division  on  another 
for  the  same  purpose.  These  reconnoissances  all  returned 


]48  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEBIDAN. 

aud  reported  having  found  the  enemy  in  force  on  all  roada 
except  the  one  leading  to  Estill  Springs.  Scouts  all  con- 
firmed this,  with  the  fact  that  it  was  the  general  belief 
that  Bragg  would  fight  us  in  his  intrenchments  at  Tulla- 
homa. 

"  Meanwhile  we  had  information  that  Stanley's  cav- 
alry, supported  by  Major-General  Granger's  infantry,  and 
acting  under  his  general  directions,  had  attacked  the  ene- 
my's cavalry  and  artillery  at  Guy's  Gap,  on  the  Murfrees- 
boro  and  Shelbyville  pike,  and  driven  them  from  stand  to 
stand,  killing,  wounding,  and  capturing  as  they  went,  un- 
til the  enemy  reached  their  intrenchments,  from  which 
they  were  soon  driven  by  flanking  and  a  direct  charge, 
wherein  the  cavalry  captured  three  pieces  of  artillery, 
some  with  loads  in,  but  not  rammed  down. 

"  From  their  intrenchments  the  rebels  fled  to  town, 
when  they  made  another  stand,  but  in  vain.  Our  cavalry 
came  down  with  resistless  sweep,  and  drove  them  in  con- 
fusion into  the  river.  Many  were  killed  and  drowned, 
and  Shelbyville, '  with  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  a 
quantity  of  arms  and  commissary  stores,  were  the  crown- 
ing results  of  the  cavalry  operations  that  day.  It  was 
worthy  of  note  that  the  waving  of  flags  and  cheers  of 
welcome  from  the  inhabitants  of  this  unconquerable  strong- 
hold of  loyalty,  doubtless  added  vigor  and  energy  to  the 
advance  of  our  troops.  The  reports  from  this  cav- 
alry battle  showed  also  the  enemy's  withdrawal  on  Tul- 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  149 

lahoma,  and  the  general  expectation  that  he  would  fight 
there. 

"  July  3d,  General  Sheridan  succeeded  in  crossing 
Elk  River,  and,  supported  by  General  J.  C.  Davis's  dh  i- 
sion,  pursued  the  enemy  to  Cowan,  where  he  learned  the 
enemy  had  crossed  the  mountains  with  his  artillery  and 
infantry  by  University  and  Sweden's  Cove,  and  that  the 
cavalry  only  would  be  found  covering  their  rear.  Gen- 
eral Thomas  got  over  his  troops  the  same  day,  Negley's 
division  moving  on  the  Brakefield  Point  road  toward  the 
University.  Sheridan  sent  some  cavalry  from  his  position, 
and  Stanley  some  from  the  main  column,  now  in  pursuit ; 
but  they  only  developed  the  fact  that  the  enemy  was  gone, 
and  as  our  troops  were  out  of  provisions,  and  the  roads 
worn  well-nigh  impracticable  from  rain  and  travel,  they 
were  obliged  to  halt  till  their  supplies  could  be  brought 
forward  from  Murfreesboro,  to  which  point  the  wagons 
had  been  sent  for  that  purpose. 

"  Thus  ended  a  nine  days'  campaign,  which  drove  the 
enemy  from  two  fortified  positions,  and  gave  us  possession 
of  Middle  Tennessee,  conducted  in  one  of  the  most  extra- 
ordinary rains  ever  known  in  Tennessee  at  that  period  of 
the  year,  over  a  soil  that  becomes  almost  a  quicksand. 
Our  operations  were  retarded  thirty-six  hours  at  Hoover's 
Gap,  and  sixty  hours  at  and  in  front  of  Manchester,  which 
alone  prevented  us  from  getting  possession  of  his  commu- 
nications, and  forcing  the  enemy  to  a  very  disastrous  battle 


150  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

These  results  were  far  more  successful  than  was  an- 
ticipated, and  could  only  have  been  obtained  by  a  surprise 
as  to  the  direction  and  force  of  our  movement." 

While  these  movements  in  Tennessee  preparatory  to 
great  battles  were  in  progress,  the  blackness  of  the  war's 
most  frightful  eclipse  was  spreading  over  the  North.  Gen. 
Lee's  proud  and  apparently  resistless  legions  approached 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  Whether  any  successful  bar- 
rier could  oppose  their  advance  upon  Northern  soil,  was 
the  thrilling  question  which  agitated  millions  of  hearts. 
Although  Vicksburg  was  yielding  to  the  unrelenting  and 
unruffled  Grant,  the  country,  watching  this  threatening 
tide  of  invasion,  knew  it  not. 

July  1st  and  2d  were  bloody  but  undecisive  days  of 
conflict.  And  it  will  interest  you  to  read  the  exultation 
of  the  Richmond  papers  at  this  crisis,  particularly  so  in  the 
fearful  light  they  present.  Wrote  the  Enquirer : 

"  General  Lee's  magnificent  victory  at  Gettysburg* 
has,  doubtless,  cost  us  very  dear,  as  many  of  us  will  know 
too  well  when  the  sad  details  come  in.  At  present  we  have 
only  the  great  and  glorious  result — the  greatest  army  of 
the  Yankee  nation  swept  away,  trampled  under  foot,  and 
all  but  annihilated  upon  its  soil ;  the  best  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania laid  under  contribution  to  sustain  our  army,  and, 
in  some  small  measure,  make  good  our  heavy  losses  ;  the 
second  city  on  the  continent  open  to  our  armies,  and  al- 
ready reckoning  up  the  number  of  millions  it  must  pay  tc 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  151 

ransom  it  from  pillage  and  conflagration ;  our  own  city 
of  Baltimore  waiting  its  deliverance  with  a  passionate  but 
secret  joy  ;  and  Washington,  that  foul  den  of  thieves,  ex- 
pecting the  righteous  vengeance  of  Heaven  for  the  hideous 
crimes  that  have  been  done  within  its  walls.  In  Phila- 
delphia, how  the  Quakers  quake  this  day  !  In  Washing- 
ton, how  the  whole  brood  of  Lincoln  and  his  rascal  min- 
isters turn  pale  ;  how  their  knees  smite  together  as  they 
hear  from  afar  off  the  roar  of  their  grand  Army  of  the 
Potomac  rolled  back  in  bloody  rout  and  dismay,  and  see 
flashing  through  their  guilty  dreams  the  avenging  bayo- 
nets of  those  they  dared  to  call  '  rebels  ! '  Ha  !  does  their 
monstrous  crime  weigh  heavy  on  their  souls  to-day  ?  Min- 
gling with  the  cheers  that  greeted  the  sweet  perorations 
of  their  Fourth  of  July  '  orators  of  the  day/  do  their  ears 
hear  the  wail  of  the  homeless  and  the  fatherless  whose 
houses  they  have  laid  in  ashes,  whose  pride  and  strength 
they  have  laid  low  in  the  graves  of  a  hundred  battle-fields  ? 
Yes,  they  begin  to  feel  that  they  were  in  the  wrong ;  that 
there  was  some  mistake  somewhere  ;  and  for  the  first  time 
they  pray  for  peace. 

"  But  this  is  only  their  first  lesson.  It  is  probable  that 
our  peace  commissioners  will  have  many  such  to  administer 
before  the  enemy  shall  be  perfectly  satisfied  that  there  is 
no  possible  peace  for  him  until  he  withdraws  every  soldier 
from  the  soil  of  every  State,  including  Missouri,  Kentucky, 
Maryland,  and  Delaware,  and  yield  up  to  their  lawful 


152  LIFE   OF   GENEBAL    SHEEIDAN. 

owners  every  town  and  fort  he  holds  all  around  our  borders. 
Cincinnati,  for  example,  would,  we  are  assured,  burn  well." 

The  Dispatch  had  the  following :  "  In  the  present 
instance  the  very  enormity  of  the  loss  in  prisoners  attrib- 
uted to  the  enemy  excites  incredulity,  although  no  man 
doubts  that  the  reporter  stated  accurately  the  prevalent 
belief  in  Martinsburg  at  the  time.  We  feel  as  well  as- 
sured that  General  Lee,  if  he  has  met  the  enemy  in  a 
pitched  battle,  has  inflicted  a  terrible  blow  upon  them,  as 
we  do  that  we  are  living,  breathing,  sentient  beings. 
Whether  the  details  be  precisely  such  as  the  telegraph 
gives  us  is  another  matter.  If  General  Lee  has,  after  a 
hard-fought  battle,  taken  forty  thousand  prisoners,  he  has 
gained  one  of  the  most  complete  victories  on  record.  He 
has  utterly  destroyed  the  only  obstacle  that  stood  between 
him  and  Baltimore,  and  we  can  see  no  reason  why  he  should 
not  be  in  that  city  to-morrow  night.  The  force  to  defend 
it  consists  entirely  of  militia,  many  of  them  but  ill-affected  ; 
and  they  have  within  the  city  a  deadly  enemy,  as  numerous 
as  themselves,  panting  for  revenge,  and  ready  to  rise  on 
the  first  opportunity.  In  the  panic  which  must  follow 
such  an  astounding  overthrow,  nothing  can  be  easier  than 
to  march  in  and  take  possession/ 

"  Epitaph  for  General  Meade. — The  following  epitaph, 
from  the  gravestone  of  an  infant,  should  be  placed  upon 
the  monument  of  Meade  : 

'  If  so  soon  I'm  done  for, 
Wonder  what  I  was  bL'g'un  for.' " 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  153 

July  3d  brought  the  terrific  and  victorious  meeting  of 
the  grand  armies,  on  whose  valor  hung  largely,  if  not  en- 
tirely, the  fortunes  of  the  Republic.  Over  the  piled  and 
furrowed  field,  running  gore  on  every  declivity,  rose  and 
rolled  over  the  land  the  shouts  of  triumph.  Mr.  B.  D. 
Beyea,  of  Bradford,  Pa.,  who  searched  among  the  dead  for 
the  body  of  Captain  Flagg,  tells  us  about  one  of  the  heroes. 

"  In  the  town  of  Gettysburg  lives  an  old  couple  by 
the  name  of  Burns.  The  old  man  was  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  is  now  nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  yet  the  frosts  of 
many  winters  has  not  chilled  his  patriotism  or  diminished 
his  love  for  the  old  flag,  under  which  he  fought  in  his  early 
days.  When  the  rebels  invaded  the  beautiful  Cumberland 
valley,  and  were  marching  on  Gettysburg,  Old  Burns 
concluded  that  it  was  time  for  every  loyal  man,  young  or 
old,  to  be  up  and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  beat  back  the 
rebel  foe,  and  if  possible  give  them  a  quiet  resting-place 
beneath  the  sod  they  were  polluting  with  their  unhallowed 
feet.  The  Old  Hero  took  down  an  old  State  musket  he 
had  in  his  house  and  commenced  running  bullets.  The 
old  lady  saw  what  he  was  about,  and  wanted  to  know 
what  in  the  world  he  was  going  to  do  ?  *  Ah  ! '  said  Burns, 
4 1  thought  some  of  the  boys  might  want  the  old  gun,  and 
I  am  getting  it  ready  for  them/  The  rebels  came  on. 
Old  Burns  kept  his  eye  on  the  lookout  until  he  saw  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  coming  in,  carried  by  our  brave  boys, 
This  was  more  than  the  old  fellow  could  stand  ;  his  patri 


154  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKEDAN. 

otism  got  the  better  of  his  age  and  infirmity  ;  grabbing  hia 
musket  he  started  out — the  old  lady  hallooed  to  him : 
'  Burns,  where  are  you  going? '  <  Oh  ! '  says  Burns,  4 1 
am  going  out  to  see  what  is  going  on.'  He  immediately 
went  to  a  Wisconsin  regiment  and  asked  them  if  they  would 
take  him  in.  \  They  told  him  they  would,  and  gave  him 
three  rousing  cheers.  The  old  musket  was  soon  thrown 
aside  and  a  first-rate  rifle  given  him,  and  twenty-five  rounds 
of  cartridges. 

"  The  engagement  between  the  two  armies  soon  came 
on,  and  the  old  man  fired  eighteen  of  his  twenty-five  rounds, 
and  says  he  killed  three  rebs  to  his  certain  knowledge. 
Our  forces  were  compelled  to  fall  back  and  leave  our  dead 
and  wounded  on  the  field,  and  Burns  having  received  three 
wounds,  was  left  also,  not  being  able  to  get  away.  There 
he  lay  in  citizen's  dress,  and  if  the  rebs  found  him  in  that 
condition  he  knew  death  was  his  portion.  So  he  concluded 
to  try  strategy  as  his  only  hope.  Soon  the  rebels  came  up, 
and  approached  him,  saying :  '  Old  man,  what  are  you 
doing  here  ? '  * 1  am  lying  here  wounded,  as  you  see,'  he 
replied.  ;  Well,  but  what  business  have  you  to  be  here, 
and  who  wounded  you,  our  troops  or  yours  ? '  4 1  don't  know 
who  wounded  me,  but  I  only  know  that  I  am  wounded  and 
in  a  bad  fix.'  '  Well,  what  were  you  doing  here — what  was 
your  business ? '  'If  you  will  hear  my  story,  I  will  tell 
you.  My  old  woman's  health  is  very  poor,  and  I  was  over 
across  the  country  to  get  a  girl  to  help  her,  and  coming 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  155 

back  before  I  knew  where  I  was,  I  had  got  right  into  this 
fix,  and  here  I  are.'  '  Where  do  you  live  ? '  inquired  the 
rebels.  '  Over  in  town,  in  such  a  small  house/  They 
then  picked  him  up  and  carried  him  home  and  left  him. 
But  they  soon  returned,  as  if  suspecting  he  had  been  lying 
to  them,  and  made  him  answer  a  great  many  questions, 
but  he  stuck  to  his  old  story,  and  they  failed  to  make  any 
thing  out  of  old  Burns,  and  then  left  him  for  good. 

u  He  says  he  shall  always  feel  indebted  to  some  of  his 
copperhead  neighbors  for  the  last  call,  for  he  believes  some 
one  had  informed  them  of  him.  Soon  after  they  left  a 
bullet  came  into  his  room  and  struck  in  the  wall  about  six 
inches  above  where  he  lay  on  his  sofa,  but  he  don't  know 
who  fired  it.  His  wounds  proved  only  to  be  flesh  wounds, 
and  he  is  getting  well,  feels  first-rate,  and  says  he  would 
like  one  more  good  chance  to  give  them  a  rip. 

"  Old  Burns  is  the  great  hero  of  the  battle  ;  his  home 
is  thronged  with  visitors.  Governor  Curtin  and  many  other 
distinguished  men  have  called  on  him,  and  have  made  him 
valuable  presents. 

"  Now  mark  the  contrast  between  Burns,  who  had 
risked  his  life  to  save  his  country,  and  lay  there  on  his 
couch  wounded  and  bleeding  from  three  different  wounds, 
and  his  copperhead  neighbors,  who,  no  doubt,  sent  the  rebels 
back  to  cut  his  throat ;  and  if  they  had  been  the  one  hun- 
dredth part  as  mean  as  their  sympathizers,  would  have  done 
it.  He  has  but  little  doubt  that  after  the  rebels  left  him  for 


156  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEEIDAN. 

good,  those  fiends  in  human  shape,  finding  the  rebels  had 
some  pity  for  suffering  humanity  and  spared  his  life,  tried 
to  kill  him  themselves  by  firing  at  him  in  his  own  home." 

Although  lost  sight  of  in  the  awful  suspense,  followed 
by  a  delirium  of  joy,  attending  the  events  at  Gettysburg, 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  steadily  advanced  toward 
the  object  of  its  heroic  ambition. 

General  Sheridan,  as  announced  by  his  chief,  was 
conspicuous  in  the  movements  and  the  battles  which  re- 
moved the  headquarters  of  the  army  to  Winchester, 
Tennessee.  Flushed  with  the  successes  at  Liberty  Gap 
and  Winchester,  General  Sheridan's  troops,  in  view  of  an 
impending  struggle,  engaged  with  enthusiasm  in  the 
more  prosy  business  of  getting  the  whole  army  forward 
toward  the  Tennessee  River  ;  progress  being  retarded  by 
rebuilding  railroads  and  securing  the  necessary  supplies. 
The  remarkable  region  which  was  to  be  traversed  before 
reaching  Chattanooga,  the  scenery  and  battles  near  it, 
will  make  a  description  of  this  romantic  and  historical 
latitude  interesting.  The  great  leader  of  the  legions  of 
the  Republic  to  that  field,  has  given  from  his  own  obser- 
vation a  graphic  account  of  the  country,  and  the  march 
toward  the  river.  You  will  learn  that  Sheridan  was 
among  the  most  active  and  successful  commanders.  Re- 
ferring to  Chattanooga,  the  chieftain  of  the  magnificent 
cavalcade  writes : 

"  It  commands  the  southern  entrance  into  East  Tenn- 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  157 

essee,  the  most  valuable,  if  not  the  chief  source  of  sup- 
plies of  coal  for  the  manufactories  and  machine  shops 
of  the  Southern  States,  and  is  one  of  the  great  gateways 
through  the  mountains  to  the  champaign  counties  of 
Georgia  and  Alabama.  The  Cumberland  range  is  a 
lofty  mass  of  rocks  separating  the  waters  which  flow  into 
the  Cumberland  from  those  which  flow  into  the  Tennes- 
see, and  extending  from  beyond  the  Kentucky  line  in  a 
southwesterly  direction,  nearly  to  Athens,  Alabama.  Its 
northwestern  slopes  are  steep  and  rocky,  and  scalloped 
into  coves,  in  which  are  the  heads  of  numerous  streams 
that  water  Middle  Tennessee.  Its  top  is  undulating,  or 
rough,  covered  with  timber,  soil  comparatively  barren, 
and  in  dry  seasons  scantily  supplied  with  water.  Its 
southeastern  slope,  above  Chattanooga,  for  many  miles, 
is  precipitous,  rough,  and  difficult  all  the  way  up  to 
Kingston.  The  valley  between  the  foot  of  this  slope  and 
the  river  seldom  exceeds  four  or  five  miles  in  width,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  a  narrow  border  along  the  banks, 
w  undulating  or  hilly. 

"  Between  Stevenson  and  Chattanooga,  on  the  south 
af  the  Tennessee,  are  two  ranges  of  mountains,  the  Ten- 
nessee River  separating  them  from  the  Cumberland.  Its 
channel,  a  great  chasm  cut  through  the  mountain  masses, 
which  in  those  places  abut  directly  on  the  river.  These 
two  ranges  are  separated  by  a  narrow  valley  through 
which  runs  Lookout  Creek. 


158  LIFE   OF   GENEBAL   SHERIDAN. 

"  The  Sand  Mountain  is  next  the  Tennessee,  and  its 
northern  extremity  is  called  Raccoon  Mountain.  Its  sides 
are  precipitous,  and  its  top  barren  oak  ridges,  nearly  des- 
titute of  water.  There  are  but  few,  and  those  very  diffi- 
cult wagon-roads,  by  which  to  ascend  and  descend  the 
slopes  of  this  mountain. 

"East  of  Lookout  valley  is  Lookout  Mountain,  a 
vast  palisade  of  rocks  rising  two  thousand  four  hundred 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  in  abrupt  rocky  cliffs, 
from  a  steep,  wooded  base.  Its  eastern  sides  are  no  less 
precipitous.  Its  top  varies  from  one  to  six  or  seven  miles 
in  breadth,  is  heavily  timbered,  sparsely  settled,  and  poorly 
watered.  It  terminates  abruptly  upon  the  Tennessee,  two 
miles  below  Chattanooga,  and  the  only  practical  wagon- 
roads  across  it  are  over  the  nose  of  the  mountain,  at  this 
point,  one  at  Johnson's  Crook,  twenty-six  miles  distant, 
and  one  at  Winston's  Gap,  forty-two  miles  distant  from 
Chattanooga.  Between  the  eastern  base  of  this  range 
and  the  line  of  the  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta  or  Georgia 
State  Railroad  are  a  series  of  narrow  valleys,  separated 
by  smaller  ranges  of  hills  or  low  mountains,  over  which 
there  are  quite  a  number  of  practicable  wagon-roads  run- 
ning eastward  toward  the  railroad.  The  first  of  these 
ranges  is  Missionary  Ridge,  separating  the  waters  01 
Chickamauga  from  Chattanooga  Creek." 

It  was  evident  from  this  description  of  the  topography, 
that  to  reach  Chattanooga,  or  to  penetrate  the  country 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  159 

south  of  it,  on  the  railroad,  by  crossing  the  Tennessee 
below  Chattanooga,  was  a  difficult  task.  It  was  necessary 
to  cross  the  Cumberland  Mountains  with  subsistence, 
ammunition,  at  least  a  limited  supply  of  forage,  and  a 
bridge  train ;  to  cross  Sand  or  Raccoon  Mountains  into 
Lookout  valley,  then  Lookout  Mountain,  and  finally  the 
lesser  ranges,  Missionary  Ridge,  if  we  went  directly  to 
Chattanooga ;  or  Missionary  Ridge,  Pigeon  Mountain, 
and  Taylor's  Ridge,  if  we  struck  the  railroad  at  Dalton, 
or  south  of  it.  The  valley  of  the  Tennessee  River, 
though  several  miles  in  breadth  between  the  bases  of  the 
mountains,  below  Bridgeport,  is  not  a  broad  alluvial 
farming  country,  but  full  of  barren  oak  ridges,  sparsely 
settled,  and  but  a  small  part  of  it  under  cultivation. 

Proudly,  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  streaming  over  it, 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  come  down  the  slopes 
of  the  mountains  to  the  Tennessee,  which  runs  in  a  very 
serpentine  channel  near  Chattanooga,  as  the  great  natural 
gateway  of  armies — that  splendid  prize  for  which  they 
were  soon  to  contend  in  a  deadly  earnest. 

What  an  exciting  spectacle  !  Armed  legions  pouring 
at  different  points  on  the  banks  of  a  majestic  river,  brought 
to  a  halt  by  its  beautiful  barrier,  for  a  brief  period,  till 
the  pontoon  boats  are  in  place,  bridges  built,  or  the  exact 
fording  place  found,  and  then  marching  over  to  meet  the 
human  tide — the  fiery  and  sanguinary  waves  of  rebel- 
lion. In  this  u  Tullahoma  campaign  "  there  was  a  fine 


160  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

opportunity  for  Sheridan  to  display  his  tireless  energy. 
After  the  rebels  were  driven  from  that  place  and 
Winchester,  and  the  general  pursuit  of  the  enemy  was 
abandoned,  his  division,  with  Stanley's  cavalry,  were  or- 
dered to  continue  the  chase  ever  the  heights  to  Tennessee. 
So  rapid  was  his  march,  that  he  reined  up  at  the  Bridge- 
port bridge  before  General  Stanley  arrived,  and  saved  a 
part  of  the  structure.  He  loved  to  tell  as  a  good  joke 
the  story  of  his  interview  with  the  rebels  there.  He  found 
some  of  the  rear  guard  of  Bragg's  army  sitting  on  the 
end  of  the  bridge,  who  inquired  if  his  advance  troops 
were  "a  part  of  Stanley's  cavalry?"  The  infantry  had 
outmarched  the  cavalry,  and  were  mistaken  for  them. 

The  first  step  was  to  repair  the  Nashville  and  Chatta- 
nooga Railroad,  to  bring  forward  to  Tullahoma,  McMinn- 
ville,  Dechard,  and  Winchester,  needful  forage  and  sub- 
sistence, which  it  was  impossible  to  transport  from  Mur- 
freesboro  to  those  points  over  the  horrible  roads  which 
were  encountered  on  the  advance  to  Tullahoma.  The  next 
was  to  extend  the  repairs  of  the  main  stem  to  Stevenson 
and  Bridgeport  and  the  Tracy  City  Branch,  so  that  sup- 
plies could  be  placed  in  the  depots  at  those  points,  from 
which  to  draw  after  crossing  the  mountains. 

A  3  soon  as  the  main  stem  was  finished  to  Stevenson, 
Sheridan's  division  was  advanced,  two  brigades  to  Bridge- 
port and  one  to  Stevenson,  and  commissary  and  quarter- 
master stores  pushed  forward  to  the  latter  place,  with  all 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  161 

practicable  speed.  These  supplies  began  to  be  accumu- 
lated at  this  point  in  sufficient  quantities  by  the  eighth  of 
August,  and  corps  commanders  were  that  day  directed  to 
supply  their  troops,  as  soon  as  possible,  with  rations  and 
forage  sufficient  for  a  general  movement. 

The  Tracy  City  Branch,  built  for  bringing  coal 
down  the  mountains,  has  such  high  grades  and  sharp 
curves  as  to  require  a  peculiar  engine.  The  only  one  on 
hand  answering  the  purpose,  having  been  broken  on  its 
way  from  Nashville,  was  not  repaired  until  about  the 
twelfth  of  August.  It  was  deemed  best,  therefore,  to  de- 
lay the  movement  of  the  troops  until  that  road  was  com- 
pletely available  for  transporting  stores  to  Tracy  City. 
The  movement  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains  began  on 
the  morning  of  the  16th  August. 

The  crossing  of  the  river  required  that  the  best  points 
should  be  chosen,  and  means  provided  for  the  crossing. 
The  river  was  reconnoitred,  the  pontoons  and  trains  or- 
dered forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  hidden  from  view 
in  rear  of  Stevenson,  and  prepared  for  use.  By  the  time 
they  were  ready  the  places  of  crossing  had  been  selected, 
and  dispositions  made  to  begin  the  operation.  It  was 
very  desirable  to  conceal  to  the  last  moment  the  points  of 
crossing,  but  as  the  mountains  on  the  south  side  of  tl  3 
the  Tennessee  rise  in  precipitous  rocky  bluffs  to  the 
height  of  eight  hundred  or  one  thousand  feet,  completely 
overlooking  the  whole  valley  and  its  coves,  this  was  next 


162  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

to  impossible.  Not  having  pontoons  for  two  bridges 
across  the  river,  General  Sheridan  began  trestle-work  for 
parts  of  one  at  Bridgeport,  while  General  Reynolds'  divi- 
sion seizing  Shellmount,  captured  some  boats,  and  from 
these  and  material  picked  up,  prepared  the  means  of 
crossing  at  that  point,  and  General  Brannan  prepared 
rafts  for  crossing  his  troops  at  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek. 

The  laying  of  the  pontoon-bridges  at  Caperton's 
Ferry  was  very  handsomely  done  by  the  troops  of  Gen- 
eral Davis,  under  the  direction  of  General  McCook,  who 
crossed  his  advance  in  pontoons  at  daylight,  driving  the 
enemy's  cavalry  from  the  opposite  side.  The  bridge  was 
ready  for  crossing  by  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.  the  same  day, 
but  in  plain  view  from  the  rebel  signal-stations  opposite 
Bridgeport.  The  bridge  at  Bridgeport  was  finished  on 
the  twenty-ninth  of  August,  but  an  accident  occurred 
which  delayed  its  final  completion  till  September  second. 
The  movement  across  the  river  was  commenced  on  the 
twenty-ninth,  and  completed  on  the  fourth  of  September, 
leaving  the  regular  brigade  in  charge  of  the  railroad  and 
depot  at  Stevenson  until  relieved  by  Major  Granger,  who 
was  directed,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  relieve  it  and  take 
charge  of  the  rear. 

General  Thomas's  corps  was  to  cross  as  follows  :  One 
division  at  Caperton's  and  one  at  Bridgeport,  Reynolds  at 
Shellmount  in  boats,  and  one  division  at  Battle  Creek  on 
rafts.  All  were  to  use  the  bridge  at  Bridgeport  for  such 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  "  163 

portions  of  their  trains  as  they  might  find  necessary,  and 
to  concentrate  near  Trenton,  and  send  an  advance  to 
seize  Frick  or  Cooper's  and  Stevens's  Gaps,  on  the  Look- 
out Mountain,  the  only  practicable  routes  leading  down 
the  mountains  into  the  valley,  called  McLemore's  Cove, 
which  lies  at  its  eastern  base,  and  stretches  northwesterly 
toward  Chattanooga. 

General  McCook's  corps  was  to  cross  two  divisions 
at  Caperton's  Ferry,  move  to  Valley  Head  and  seize 
Winston's  Gap,  while  Sheridan  was  to  cross  at  Bridge- 
port, as  soon  as  the  bridge  was  laid,  and  join  the  rest  of 
his  corps,  near  Winston's,  by  way  of  Trenton. 

General  Crittenden's  corps  was  ordered  down  the  Se- 
quatchie,  leaving  the  two  advanced  brigades,  under  Hazen 
and  Warren,  with  Minty's  cavalry  and  Wilder's  mounted 
infantry,  to  watch  and  annoy  the  enemy.  It  was  to  cross 
the  river,  following  Thomas's  corps,  at  all  three  crossings, 
and  to  take  post  on  the  Murphy's  Hollow  road,  push  an 
advance  brigade  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy  at  the  foot  of 
Lookout,  and  take  part  at  Wauhatchie,  communicating 
from  his  main  body  with  Tl<  xmas,  on  the  right,  up  the 
Trenton  Valley,  and  threatening  Chattanooga  by  the  pass 
over  the  point  of  Lookout. 

The  cavalry  forces  which  crossed  at  Caperton's  and 
a  ford  near  Island  Creek,  were  to  unite  in  Lookout  valley, 
take  post  at  Rawlingsville,  and  reconnoitre  boldly  toward 
Rome  and  Alpine. 


164  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   SHERIDAN. 

The  first  barrier  south  of  the  Tennessee  being  crossed, 
the  enemy  was  found  firmly  holding  the  Point  of  Look- 
out Mountain  with  infantry  and  artillery,  while  our  force 
oil  the  north  side  of  the  river  reported  the  movement 
of  the  rebel  forces  from  East  Tennessee,  and  their  con- 
centration at  Chattanooga.  To  dislodge  him  from  that 
place  it  was  necessary  to  carry  Lookout  Mountain,  or  so 
to  move  as  to  compel  him  to  quit  his  position,  by  endan- 
gering his  line  of  communication.  The  latter  plan  was 
chosen.  The  cavalry  was  ordered  to  advance  on  our  ex- 
treme right  to  Summerville  in  Broomtown  valley,  and 
General  McCook  was  ordered  to  support  the  movement 
by  a  division  of  infantry  thrown  forward  to  the  vicinity 
of  Alpine,  which  was  executed  on  the  eighth  and  ninth 
of  September.  General  Thomas  was  ordered  to  cross 
his  corps  by  Frick's  or  Cooper's  and  Stevens' s  Gaps,  and 
occupy  the  head  of  McLemore's  Cove.  General  Critten- 
den  was  ordered  to  reconnoitre  the  front  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  sending  a  brigade  upon  an  almost  imprac- 
ticable path,  called  the  Nickajack  Trace,  to  Summertown, 
a  hamlet  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  overlooking 
Chattanooga,  and  holding  the  main  body  of  his  corps, 
either  to  support  these  reconnoissances,  to  prevent  a 
sortie  of  the  enemy  over  the  nose  of  Lookout,  or  to 
enter  Chattanooga  in  case  the  enemy  should  evacuate  it 
or  make  but  feeble  resistance.  Simultaneously  with  this 
movement  the  cavalry  was  ordered  to  push,  by  way  of 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  165 

Alpine  and  Broomtown  valley,  and  strike  the  enemy's 
railroad  communication  between  Resaca  Bridge  and 
Dalton. 

While  General  Sheridan  was  encamped  at  Bridgeport 
the  following  amusing  incident  occurred :  "  The  bellig- 
erent in  Sheridan's  organization  is  often  aroused  with- 
out the  stimulus  of  the  smell  of  gunpowder.  In  18G3, 
while'  Sheridan  was  encamped  at  Bridgeport,  Alabama, 
he  invited  General  George  H.  Thomas,  then  encamped 
at  Deckerd,  Tennessee,  to  examine  the  works  erected  at 
Bridgeport  and  the  preparations  going  on  for  rebuilding 
the  bridge.  At  one  of  the  way-stations  the  train  halted 
for  an  unusually  long  time,  and  Sheridan,  on  asking  the 
conductor,  a  great,  burly  six-footer,  the  reason,  met  with 
a  somewhat  gruff  reply.  Sheridan  contented  himself 
with  reproving  his  manner,  and  ordered  him  to  proceed 
with  the  train.  The  conductor  did  not  reply,  and  failed 
to  obey.  After  waiting  for  a  time  Sheridan  sent  for  the 
conductor,  and  demanded  to  know  why  he  had  not  obey- 
ed. The  fellow  answered,  in  a  gruff  manner,  that  he  re- 
ceived his  orders  from  the  military  superintendent  only. 
Without  giving  him  time  to  finish  the  insulting  reply. 
Sheridan  struck  him  two  or  three  rapid  blows,  kicked 
him  from  the  cars  and  into  the  hanJs  of  a  guard,  and 
then  ordered  the  train  forward,  acting  as  conductor  ou 
the  down  and  return  trip.  After  starting  the  train  he 
returned  to  his  seat  near  General  Thomas,  and,  without 


1.66  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

referring  to  the  subject,  resumed  bis  conversation  with 
that  imperturbable  dignitary." 

General  Sheridan's  division  passed  safely  over  the 
river  on  their  own  bridge,  August  31st,  and  swept  on  tow- 
ard Trenton,  in  Dade  County,  Georgia,  and  on  the  5th 
of  September  encamped  a  few  miles  from  that  village. 
The  following  day  the  march  was  resumed.  The  rebels 
finding  that  the  cavalry  were  approaching,  Sheridan 
having  reached  Steam's  Mills,  on  their  flank,  evacuated 
Chattanooga.  General  Bragg  had  been  reenforced  by 
paroled  prisoners  from  Vicksburg  which  had  surrendered 
July  4th,  and  further  additions  were  expected  from  At- 
lanta. In  a  cavalry  reconnoissance,  Sheridan  found  that 
he  had  only  retired  a  short  distance  to  Lafayette,  evident- 
ly determined  to  test  there  the  strength  of  his  antagonist, 
and  defend  his  threatened  and  guarded  Thermopylae. 
The  Union  army,  with  great  difficulty,  were  concen- 
trated on  the  broken  country,  and  September  19th  the 
shock  of  the  anticipated  collision  came.  It  was  late  in 
the  morning,  when,  at  Owen's  Ford,  on  Chickamauga 
River,  the  lion-hearted  Thomas  encountered  a  rebel  bri- 
gade, drove  it  back,  and  in  turn  was  driven  from  the 
banks  of  the  stream.  The  enemy  now  swarmed  across 
the  ford,  and  fairly  overwhelmed  our  divisions  as  they 
came  up,  here  violently  hurling  one  back,  and  there  al- 
most surrounding  another. 

Till  the  sun  went  down  the  battle  raged.     "  What 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  167 

advantage  generally  had  been  gained,  however,  was  with 
the  rebels.  They  had  successfully  overcome  the  obstacle 
of  the  river  in  their  front  on  Sunday  morning,  forcing  the 
Federal  line  from  it  at  every  point,  until  it  lay  in  a 
country  almost  destitute  of  water.  Not  enough  could  be 
had  for  the  men's  coffee,  and  what  was  obtained  was 
from  springs  several  miles  distant.  Daring  the  day 
Negley's  division  had  been  withdrawn  from  Owen's  Ford, 
and  in  the  afternoon  Lytle's  brigade,  which  had  reocupied 
Gordon's  Mills  after  Wood  was  withdrawn,  was  recalled, 
so  that  the  whole  army  was  in  the  line.  There  was,  in- 
deed, little  need  of  detachments  now,  for  there  was  left 
nothing  south  of  Rossville  to  hold,  except  the  plain  coun- 
try, which  the  enemy  shared.  The  force  and  position  of 
both  armies  had,  it  was  safe  to  assume,  been  well  de- 
veloped, and  with  this  knowledge  the  night  was  before  the 
hostile  commanders  for  tactical  dispositions,  if  it  was  de- 
cided to  fight  on  the  morrow.  On  the  Federal  side  there 
was  less  reason  for  retreat  than  in  the  morning ;  all  un- 
certainty as  to  the  rebel  position  had  vanished,  and  it 
only  remained  to  look  to  his  movements  during  the  night. 
Gordon's  Mills  having  been  abandoned,  there  was  but  one 
great  strategic  point  to  claim  attention — the  pass  at  Ross- 
ville, on  the  Chattanooga  road.  With  this  in  possession 
of  the  enemy,  a  retreat  other  than  disastrous  could  hardly 
be  hoped  for.  During  the  night  of  the  19th  the  Federal 
force  was  thus  disposed,  commencing  at  the  left  and  pro- 


168  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

ceeding  to  the  right.  Baird's  division  of  Thomas's  corps 
was  in  line  four  hundred  yards  east  of  the  Chattanooga 
road,  the  left  of  course  refused  ;  next  Johnson's  division 
of  McCook's  corps,  then  Palmer's,  of  Crittenden's  corps, 
then  Reynolds,  of  Thomas's  corps.  As  this  part  of  the 
line  subsequently  became  isolated,  it  is  particularly  de- 
scribed. The  first  line  occupied  a  very  slight  crest  in  a 
forest,  which  prevented  a  view  in  front  of  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  yards.  Along  this  line 
a  slight  breastwork  of  rails,  logs,  etc.,  commenced  first  in 
Hazen's  brigade,  had  been  carried  shortly  after  daylight. 
It  proved  invaluable  during  the  day.  In  rear  of  John- 
son's, Palmer's,  and  part  of  the  lines  of  the  other  divi- 
sions, was  an  open  field,  extending  as  far  as  the  road,  to 
which  the  line  was  parallel  at  a  distance  of  about  four 
hundred  yards.  The  northern  part  of  the  open  ground 
was  a  cornfield,  much  of  the  standing  stalk  having  been 
consumed  during  the  night ;  the  southern  part  was  a  fal- 
low field.  Beyond  the  road  looking  to  the  rear  were 
dense  woods.  Next  on  the  right  of  Reynolds  was  Bran- 
nan's  division  of  Thomas's  corps,  which  had  been  brought 
up  from  the  extreme  left  on  Saturday  evening,  at  the 
time  the  enemy  penetrated  the  centre  ;  then  Negley's  divi- 
sion, Thomas's  corps,  its  right  making  a  crotchet  to  the 
rear ;  and  the  line  across  the  Chattanooga  road  toward 
Missionary  Ridge  was  completed  by  Sheridan's  and 
Davis's  divisions  of  McCook's  corps.  Wood's  and  Van 


LIFE   OF   GENEBAL   SHEKZDAN.  169 

Cleve's  divisions  of  Crittenden's  corps,  were  in  reserve  at 
a  proper  distance  in  rear  of  the  angle  in  the  line.  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  divisions  of  the  three  corps  were  much 
scattered,  no  corps  being  complete  on  the  line.  It  was 
daylight  before  the  divisions  had  all  taken  position,  and 
when  this  was  accomplished,  there  was  begun  the  closing 
of  the  line  to  the  left,  the  divisions  moving  successively, 
and  apparently  in  obedience  to  orders  not  from  a  general 
on  the  ground,  so  tardily  was  it  done. 

"Four  or  five  batteries  of  reserve  artillery,  which 
were  left  in  position  when  the  reserve  divisions  were 
ordered  up  to  the  line,  being  directly  in  the  enemy's 
course  as  he  came  through  the  interval  above  described, 
fared  as  might  be  expected.  Almost  without  warning,  a 
rebel  line  marched  quietly  upon  the  astonished  gunners 
without  receiving  a  shot,  and  seventeen  pieces  were  cap- 
tured. The  rebels  turned  their  pieces  toward  Wood,  and 
their  shells  flying  high,  burst  in  rear  of  the  extreme  left, 
killing  the  wounded  in  a  hospital  in  rear  of  Palmer's  divi- 
sion, and  firing  the  building.  A  few  words  will  end  the 
story  of  the  right. 

"  Swarming  through  the  woods  in  confused  masses, 
the  men  of  Sheridan's,  Davis's,  and  Van  Cleve's  divisions, 
with  some  from  Brannan's,  passed  backward.  Head- 
quarters, which  had  been  in  rear  of  the  position  of  the 
reserve,  was  caught  up  by  the  multitude  and  carried  back. 
To  those  in  the  crowd  the  disaster  appeared  irremediable  ; 


170  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

apparently  the  whole  army  was  in  confused  flight.  E^  en 
the  Commanding  General,  after  a  vain  effort  to  arrest  the 
foremost  of  the  crowd  as  they  came  up  to  his  position, 
and  the  commanders  of  the  Twentieth  and  Twenty-first 
corps,  were  carried  away  by  the  living  tide,  and  cut  off 
from  the  remainder  of  the  army.  There  was  no  panic 
among  the  retreating  mass  ;  but  they  were  not  stopped, 
though  unpursued,  until  they  reached  Rossville.  Sheri- 
dan, indeed,  rallied  his  men  and  essayed  a  stand,  but 
could  not  hold  his  ground  ;  with  much  dexterity,  however, 
he  avoided  the  enemy  and  brought  his  division,  almost 
complete,  to  Rossville.  Negley,  who,  it  has  been  men- 
tioned was  withdrawn  from  the  right  and  ordered  to  the 
left,  by  some  unexplained  fatality  was  in  the  retreating 
mass  with  two  brigades,  his  other  brigade  having  been 
formed  on  the  left  of  Baird's  division." 

With  great  sacrifice  of  life,  through  the  dauntless 
heroism  of  such  men  as  Thomas,  McCook,  and  Sheridan, 
Chattanooga  was  saved  to  the  Union  cause.  It  is  start- 
ling to  think  how  near  we  came  to  a  complete  and  dis- 
astrous defeat.  Major-General  McCook,  General  Sheri- 
dan's corps  commander,  gives  prominence  to  his  heroic 
part  in  the  terrible  fight. 

The  following  order,  and  the  testimony  added,  will 
indicate  the  conspicuous  valor  which  in  nothing  has  been 
more  successful  than  reforming,  as  if  by  magic,  broken 
columns,  and  hurling  them  back  upon  the  foe,  some- 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   SHEEIDAN.  ITl 

times    snatching   victory   from    the   very  jaws   of    de- 
struction : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OP  CUMBERLAND,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  Sept.  20—10:30  A.M.      ( 

"  Major-  General  Me  Cook,  Commanding  Twentieth  Army  Corps: 

"  The  General  Commanding  directs  you  to  send  two 
brigades  of  General  Sheridan's  division  at  once,  and  with 
all  possible  despatch,  to  support  General  Thomas,  and 
send  the  Third  brigade  as  soon  as  the  lines  can  be  drawn 
sufficiently.  March  them  as  rapidly  as  you  can  without 
exhausting  the  men.  Report  in  person  to  these  head- 
quarters as  soon  as  your  orders  are  given  in  regard  to 
Sheridan's  movement. 

"  Have  you  any  news  from  Colonel  Post? 

"J.  A.  GAEFIELD, 
"Brigadier-General  and  Chief  of  Staff." 

Adds  General  McCook : 

u  This  order  was  executed  at  once.  Two  brigades  of 
Sheridan's  division — Lytle's  and  Walworth's — were  taken 
from  the  extreme  right  and  moved,  at  the  double-quick, 
to  the  support  of  General  Thomas.  Simultaneously  with 
this  movement,  and  much  to  my  surprise,  Wood's  division 
left  the  position  it  had  in  line  of  battle,  on  Davis*  left, 
marching  by  the  left  flank,  leaving  a  wide  gap  in  the  line. 
An  attempt  was  made  by  General  Davis  to  fill  up  the 
space  thus  vacated.  Buell's  brigade  of  Wood's  divisiou 


172  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN. 

had  scarcely  marched  more  than  its  length  when  a  most 
furious  and  impetuous  assault  was  made  by  the  enemy,  in 
overwhelming  numbers,  on  this  portion  of  the  line,  the 
enemy's  line  of  battle  extending  from  a  point  beyond 
Brannan's  right  to  a  point  far  to  the  right  of  the  Widow 
Glenn's  house,  and  in  front  of  the  strong  position  just 
abandoned  by  General  Sheridan's  two  brigades.  To  re- 
sist this  attack  I  had  just  two  brigades  of  Davis's  division, 
numbering  about  one  thousand  two  hundred  men,  and 
Colonel  Laibold's  brigade  of  Sheridan's  division  as  a 
support. 

"  Finding  the  enemy  pouring  through  the  interval  be- 
tween Davis  and  Brannan,  Lytle's  and  Walworth's  bri- 
gades are  deflected  from  their  line  of  march,  and  ordered 
to  assist  in  resisting  the  enemy.  Colonels  Wilder  and 
Harrison  closed  in  with  their  commands  on  Sheridan's 
right  as  speedily  as  possible,  and  did  good  service.  Gen- 
eral Davis's  command  being  overwhelmed  by  numbers, 
was  compelled  to  abandon  its  position  in  order  to  sa"ve 
itself  from  complete  annihilation  or  capture.  Laibold's 
troops  coming  up  to  Davis's  support,  met  with  a  similar 
fate.  The  other  two  brigades  of  Sheridan's  division  were 
illy  prepared  to  meet  such  an  attack.  They  struggled 
nobly,  and  for  a  time  checked  the  enemy  in  their  imme 
diate  front.  But  the  position  being  turned  far  to  the  left, 
they  were  compelled  to  withdraw  from  the  unequal  con- 
test. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  173 

"  It  was  thus  that  these  five  brigades  of  the  Twentieth 
army  corps  were  cut  off  and  separated  from  the  remainder 
of  the  army.  No  troops  fought  with  more  heroism,  or 
suffered  greater  losses  than  these  small  five  brigades ; 
their  loss  being  over  forty  per  cent,  of  the  number  en- 
gaged in  killed  and  wounded.  In  regard  to  the  numbers 
of  the  enemy  that  attacked  on  the  right,  I  can  make  no 
estimate.  General  Sheridan  captured  prisoners  from  five 
different  rebel  divisions.  The  Fifty-first  Illinois  of  Wai- 
worth's  brigade,  captured  the  colors  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Alabama. 

"  The  troops  of  Generals  Sheridan  and  Davis  were 
rallied  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  line  of  battle, 
and  marched  toward  Rossville  to  endeavor  to  form  a 
junction  with  the  troops  of  General  Thomas.  They  be- 
haved with  great  courage,  never  yielding,  except  to  over- 
whelming numbers,  when  it  would  have  been  suicidal  to 
have  contested  the  ground  longer. 

"  To  the  families  of  the  heroic  dead  the  sympathies 
of  the  nation  are  due.  Such  names  as  Heg,  Lytle,  and 
Baldwin,  brigade  commanders,  and  Colonels  Alexander, 
Gilmer,  and  McCreary,  and  many  other  distinguished 
field  and  line  officers  who  fell  upon  this  memorable  battle- 
field, will  make  a  radiant  space  in  our  history  as  a  nation. 
These  expressions  should  also  extend  to  the  many  non- 
commissioned officers  and  privates  who  gave  their  lives 
in  defence  of  their  country  and  flag. 


174:  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  To  Major-General  Sheridan,  commanding  Third 
division,  Brigadier-General  Johnson,  commanding  Sec- 
ond division,  and  Brigadier-General  Davis,  commanding 
First  division  of  my  corps,  my  thanks  are  due  for  their 
earnest  cooperation  and  devotion  to  duty.  Major-Gen- 
eral Sheridan  is  commended  to  his  country,  and  Brig- 
adier-Generals Johnson  and  Davis  are  commended  to 
their  country  and  recommended  to  my  superiors  for  pro- 
motion." 

It  is  evident  that  Sheridan's  disaster  was  not  the  result 
of  any  failure  of  his  own,  but  was  a  part  of  the  misfor- 
tune which  befell  the  division  through  the  management 
of  superior  officers.  In  the  defiles  and  forests  of  Chick- 
amauga,  as  in  the  "  dark  cedars  at  Stone  River,  by  the 
most  strenuous  exertions  and  at  great  personal  risk," 
he  partially  saved  the  sinking  fortunes  of  the  day.  The 
awful  pause  of  burial,  removal  of  the  wounded,  and  re- 
pairing the  breeches  in  the  battle-front,  followed.  We 
cannot  here  narrate  the  uncomplaining  suffering  of 
the  mangled  boys,  an<}  the  death-beds  of  triumphant 
Christian  trust,  near  the  very  spot  where,  almost  half  a 
century  before,  devoted  missionaries  planted  the  only 
banner  which  will  never  go  down  in  defeat  before  its 
foes — and  seen  by  the  spirit's  vision  in  the  darkest  hour — 
the  banner  of  the  Cross  ! 

Missionary  Ridge  is  a  name  historic,  not  alone  on  ac- 
count of  the  christianizing  of  the  noble  Cherokees,  but  the 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  175 

victories  of  freedom  and  faith  in  the  great  life  struggle  of 
the  Republic. 

You  will  have  a  fitting  close  to  the  story  of  Chicka- 
mauga  in  the  anonymous  poem  on  the  "  Dove  of  the 
Regiment" : 

"And  the  dove  came  in  to  him  in  the  evening,  and  lo!  in  her  mouth  wai 
an  olive  leaf  I " — BIBLE. 

[It  will  be  remembered  that,  during  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
stragglers  from  our  army  spread  extravagant  reports  of  disaster  and 
defeat,  and  that  the  enemy,  supposing  the  destruction  of  our  army 
complete,  exultingly  announced  that  the  road  was  clear  to  Nashville. 
After  the  retreat,  while  placing  Chattanooga  in  a  state  of  defence, 
General  Rosecrans  ordered  groves  levelled  and  houses  burned,  when 
so  situated  as  to  afford  shelter  to  the  enemy,  or  interfere  with  the 
range  of  the  artillery.  A  dove  escaped  from  a  burning  building,  and 
took  shelter  in  the  tent  of  an  officer  of  the  Forty-first  Ohio  regiment. 
It  remained  with  its  protector  during  the  siege,  which  terminated  in 
the  rout  of  Bragg's  army  at  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge. 
When  the  regiment  marched  with  Granger's  corps  to  the  relief  of  the 
beleaguered  army  at  Knoxville,  it  accompanied  it,  and  when  the 
Forty-first  reenlisted,  this  "dove  of  the  regiment"  came  with  it  to 
Cleveland.] 

The  Sabbath-day — toward  Welden  bridge  slow  stoops  the  autumn  sun; 

As  when  by  prophet's  mandate  stayed,  he  paused  on  Gideon. 

Above  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge  the  shifting  cloud  we  see 

Is  not  the  fleeting  morning  mist  that  shrouds  the  Tennessee. 

A  hundred  thousand  freemen  pale  struggle  beneath  its  shade ; 

While,  from  old  Lookout's  rugged  front,  echoes  the  cannonade. 

"  Now  glory  the  stars  and  bars,  what  may  not  valor  do  ? 

Our  foe,  in  Georgia's  dread  defiles,  has  met  his  Waterloo ! 

Here,  on  the  soil  long  consecrate  to  Indian  hardihood, 

We  have  met  the  rude  invader,  and  spilled  his  richest  blood. 


176  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

While  nations  celebrate  their  birth,  or  venerate  their  slain, 

Shall  live  the  heights  of  Mission  Ridge  and  Chickamauga's  plain. 

Now  let  the  hated  Yankee  seek  again  his  native  sod,  % 

And  feel,  in  this  last  fearful  stroke,  the  hand  of  Israel's  God ; 

Let  him  tame  his  flowing  rivers,  let  him  quell  the  restless  lake, 

Whose  billows  on  his  northland  in  sullen  grandeur  break, 

But  never  let  him  think  to  bind,  and  fetter  at  his  will, 

The  Southern  mind,  while  Southern  hands  can  wield  the  sabre  still." 

So  spake  a  haughty  Southern  lord,  with  stem  and  flashing  eye, 

Gazing  upon  a  recent  throng  that  slowly  straggled  by. 

Cease,  babbling  fool,  your  soul  to  soothe  with  this  delusive  strain ; 

Though  stragglers  flee  the  field  of  death,  the  soldiers  yet  remain. 

When  storms  assail  the  rugged  oak,  its  giant  form  may  rock, 

But  withered  leaves  and  worthless  boughs  alone  yield  to  the  shock. 

The  fight  is  done,  and  from  the  field,  the  rebels  on  their  track, 
A  weary  host,  our  scattered  bands  come  marching  slowly  back. 
"Now  fire  the  dwellings,  fell  the  groves,  these  sylvan  bowers  lay  low, 
That  o'er  the  plain  our  guns  may  speak  a  welcome  to  the  foe  ! 
Though  driven  from  the  bloody  field  we  almost  won,  and  lost, 
Back  from  this  mountain  citadel  we'll  hurl  the  rebel  host ; 
As,  after  Cannae's  fatal  day,  the  Roman  armies  bore 
Their  standards  from  Tiber's  banks  to  Afric's  hated  shore ; 
As  when  the  northern  bear  waned  weak,  in  Borodino's  fight, 
Napoleon's  host  recoiled  before  the  vengeful  Muscovite  ; 
So  yet  from  Chattanooga's  walls  we'll  spring,  the  foe  to  meet — 
The  Army  of  the  Cumberland  shall  never  know  defeat !  " 

As  from  doomed  Sodom's  sin-cursed  town  to  Zoar  Lot  trembling 

crossed, 
80  from  the  tumult  flees  a  dove,  and  cowers  amid  our  host ; 


'     LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  177 

A  message  to  that  war-worn  band  it  bears  upon  its  wing, 

Though  not  the  olive-leaf  of  Peace,  Hope's  grateful  offering. 

"Be  firm,"  its  language  seems  to  be,  "though  right  may  yield  to 

wrong, 

Hope's  brightest  omens  cheer  the  souls  that  suffer  and  are  strong." 
Responsive  to  the  Tennessee  its  songs  no  longer  break, 
But  mingled  with  the  hoarser  roar  of  Erie's  sleepless  lake. 

I 

12 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Change  of  Commanders — General  Sheridan's  Command  Enlarged — General 
Bragg  Keenforeed  and  Defiant— General  Grant  gets  ready  for  him— The 
Battle — Sheridan. 

jENERAL  GRANT,  who  had  been  hurt  by  a  fall 
from  a  strange  and  unmanageable  horse  while 
attending  a  review  at  New  Orleans,  was  laid 
aside  when  this  battle  was  fought ;  General 
Sherman  leaving  his  department  October  llth, 
to  join  and  help  Rosecrans.  On  the  17th  Generals  Grant 
and  Halleck  met  at  Indianapolis,  the  latter  bearing  in  his 
hand  an  order  putting  the  hero  of  Vicksburg  in  command 
of  the  "  Departments  of  the  Ohio,  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
of  the  Tennessee,  constituting  the  military  division  of  the 
Mississippi."  Thomas  had  succeeded  Rosecrans.  The 
two  corps  of  Crittenden  and  McCook  were  consolidated 
into  one,  commanded  by  General  Granger,  under  whom 
Sheridan's  force  was  greatly  increased  in  strength. 

General  Grant,  immediately  upon  reaching  Chatta- 
nooga, where  the  forces  under  Generals  Bragg,  Long 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  179 

street,  and  Hill,  with  Johnston's  thirty  thousand  troops 
ready  to  cooperate,  thought  the  Union  army  was  firmly 
held,  began  his  preparations  for  attack.  Every  thing  was 
in  a  bad  condition.  The  enemy,  after  the  late  battle,  had 
again  seized  the  defences  of  Lookout,  overlooking  the 
Bridgeport  road,  cutting  off  supplies.  Men,  horses,  and 
mules  were  suffering. 

General  Hooker  was  sent,  with  General  Smith,  to 
open  the  way  through  Lookout  valley,  and  meet  an  expe- 
dition to  start  at  midnight,  near  Bridgeport,  October 
26th,  for  the  same  object. 

The  rebel  chief  supposed  it  a  great  stroke  of  strategy 
to  let  Longstreet  swing  around  the  rear  of  the  Union 
army  east  of  Chattanooga,  and  beginning  with  Knoxville, 
try  to  reconquer  East  Tennessee.  But  it  was  just  what 
the  sagacious  Grant  desired.  He  immediately  deter- 
mined to  spring  upon  his  foes,  weakened  by  this  loss  of 
force. 

Monday,  November  23d,  was  the  day  appointed  for 
battle.  Sunday  you  could  have  seen  the  "  boys,"  when 
not  listening  to  the  chaplain's  serious  words,  or  engaged 
themselves  in  prayer  and  praise,  busy  with  pen  and 
paper  writing  the  messages  of  affection,  with  many  of 
them  the  last  sweet  labor  of  love  for  the  absent.  These 
scenes  vanished  with  the  approach  of  Monday's  sun. 

General  Thomas  was  to  move  against  the  strong  po- 
sition at  Orchard  Knob  and  the  forts  fronting  Chattanoo- 


180  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

ga;  General  Sherman,  across  the  Tennessee,  to  assail 
the  termination  of  Mission  Ridge  and  Tunnel  Hill.  Gen- 
aral  Granger's  work,  when  the  other  assaults  had  drawn 

• 

away  a  part  of  the  troops  from  Fort  Bragg,  the  strongest 
fortress  of  Missionary  Ridge,  to  Fort  Buckner,  would  be 
against  the  formidable  and  apparently  impregnable  forti- 
fications of  the  former. 

Soon  after  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  six  guns 
were  fired,  the  signal  of  the  onset ;  and  look  !  away  over 
the  plain  sweeps  the  veteran  corps.  It  is  a  storm-swept 
field  ;  leaden  and  iron  hail  seem  to  rake  away  every  inch 
of  coil,  but  there  is  no  wavering.  The  nearest  line  of 
rifle-pits  is  cleared,  and  onward  over  prostrate  rebels  the 
valiant  battalions  rush  for  the  summit.  Here  they  en- 
counter new  missiles  ;  rocks  and  stones  are  hurled  upon 
their  heads  from  every  cliff  and  granite  battlement. 

Stung  with  the  breaking  of  his  division  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  Sheridan  shouts :  "  Show  the  Fourth  corps 
that  the  men  of  the  Old  Twentieth  are  still  alive,  and 
can  fight !  Remember  Chickamauga  !  "  And  they  did 
fight.  Eloquently  wrote  a  beholder  of  that  tremendous 
struggle  in  which  the  dashing  Sheridan  was  conspicuous : 

"  Did  ever  battle  have  so  vast  a  cloud  of  witnesses  ? 
The  hive-shaped  hills  have  swarmed.  Clustered  like 
bees,  blackening  the  house-tops,  lining  the  fortifications, 
over  yonder  across  the  theatre,  in  the  seats  with  the  Cati- 
lines,  everywhere,  are  a  hundred  thousand  beholders. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  181 

Their  souls  are  in  their  eyes.  Not  a  murmur  can  you 
hear.  It  is  the  most  solemn  congregation  that  ever  stood 
up  in  the  presence  of  the  God  of  battles.  I  think  of 
Bunker  Hill,  as  I  stand  here  ;  of  the  thousands  who  wit- 
nessed the  immortal  struggle  ;  and  fancy  there  is  a  paral- 
lel. 1  think,  too,  that  the  chair  of  every  man  of  them 
will  stand  vacant  against  the  wall  to-morrow,  and  that 
around  the  fireside  they  must  give  thanks  without  him, 
if  they  can. 

"  At  half-past  three  a  group  of  generals,  whose  names 
will  need  no  '  Old  Mortality'  to  chisel  them  anew,  stood 
upon  Orchard  Knob.  The  hero  of  Vicksburg  was  there, 
calm,  clear,  persistent,  far-seeing.  Thomas,  the  sterling 
and  sturdy ;  Meigs,  Hunter,  Granger,  Reynolds.  Clus- 
ters of  humbler  mortals  were  there  too,  but  it  was  any 
thing  but  a  turbulent  crowd  ;  the  voice  naturally  fell  into 
a  subdued  tone,  and  even  young  faces  took  on  the  gravity 
of  later  years.  Generals  Grant,  Thomas,  and  Granger 
conferred,  an  order  was  given,  and  in  an  instant  the  Knob 
was  cleared  like  a  ship's  deck  for  action.  At  twenty 
minutes  of  four  Granger  stood  upon  the  parapet ;  the 
bugle  swung  idle  at  the  bugler's  side,  the  warbling  fife 
and  the  grumbling  drum  unheard : — there  was  to  be 
louder  talk — six  guns  at  intervals  of  two  seconds,  the 
signal  to  advance.  Strong  and  steady  his  voice  rang  out : 
4  Number  one,  fire  !  Number  two,  fire  !  Number  three, 
fire  ! '  it  seemed  to  me  the  tolling  of  the  clock  of  destiny  ; 


182  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

and  when  at  '  Number  six,  fire ! '  the  roar  throbbed 
out  with  the  flash,  you  should  have  seen  the  dead  line 
that  had  been  lying  behind  the  works  all  day,  all  night 
all  day  again,  come  to  resurrection  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye — leap  like  a  blade  from  its  scabbard  and  sweep  with 
a  two-mile  stroke  toward  the  ridge.  From  divisions  to 
brigades,  from  brigades  to  regiments,  the  order  ran.  A 
minute,  and  the  skirmishers  deploy ;  a  minute,  and  the 
first  great  drops  begin  to  patter  along  the  line  ;  a  minute, 
and  the  musketry  is  in  full  play  like  the  crackling  whips 
of  a  hemlock  fire  ;  men  go  down  here  and  there,  before 
your  eyes ;  the  wind  lifts  the  smoke  and  drifts  it  away 
over  the  top  of  the  ridge  ;  every  thing  is  too  distinct ;  it  is 
fairly  palpable  ;  you  can  touch  it  with  your  hand.  The 
divisions  of  Wood  and  Sheridan  are  wading  breast  deep 
in  the  valley  of  death. 

'*  I  never  can  tell  you  what  it  was  like.  They  pushed 
out,  leaving  nothing  behind  them.  There  was  no  reser- 
vation in  that  battle.  On  moves  the  line  of  skirmishers, 
like  a  heavy  frown,,  and  after  it,  at  quick  time,  the  splen- 
did columns.  At  right  of  us,  and  left  of  us,  and  front  of 
us,  you  can  see  the  bayonets  glitter  in  the  sun. 

"  And  all  the  while  our  lines  were  moving  on ;  they 
had  burned  through  the  woods  and  swept  over  the  rough 
and  rolling  ground  like  a  prairie-fire.  Never  halting, 
never  faltering,  they  charged  up  to  the  first  rifle-pits  with 
a  cheer,  forked  out  the  rebels  with  their  bayonets,  and 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  183 

lay  there  panting  for  breath.  If  the  thunder  of  guns  had 
been  terrible,  it  was  now  growing  sublime ;  it  was  like 
the  footfall  of  God  on  the  ledges  of  cloud.  Our  forts  and 
batteries  still  thrust  out  their  mighty  arms  across  the  val- 
ley ;  the  rebel  guns  that  lined  the  arc  of  the  crest  full  in 
our  front,  opened  like  the  fan  of  Lucifer,  and  converged 
their  fire  down  upon  Baird  and  Wood  and  Sheridan.  It 
was  rifles  and  musketry ;  it  was  grape  and  canister ;  it 
was  shell  and  shrapnel.  Mission  Ridge  was  volcanic ; 
a  thousand  torrents  of  red  poured  over  its  brink  and 
rushed  together  to  its  base.  And  our  men  were  there, 
halting  for  breath !  Echoes  that  never  waked  before, 
roared  out  from  height  to  height,  and  called  from  the  far 
ranges  of  Waldron's  Ridge  to  Lookout.  As  for  MissioD 
Ridge,  it  had  jarred  to  such  music  before ;  it  was  the 
'sounding-board'  of  Chickamauga :  it  was  behind  us 
then  ;  it  frowns  and  flashes  in  our  faces  to-day  ;  the  old 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  there ;  it  breasted  the 
storm  till  the  storm  was  spent,  and  left  the  ground  it 
held  ;  the  old  Army  of  the  Cumberland  is  here  !  It  shall 
roll  up  the  Ridge  like  a  surge  to  its  summit,  and  sweep 
triumphant  down  the  other  side.  Believe  me,  that  mem- 
ory and  hope  may  have  made  the  heart  of  many  a  blue- 
coat  beat  like  a  drum. 

"  And  all  the  while  rebel  prisoners  have  been  streaming 
out  from  the  rear  ol  our  lines  like  the  tails  of  a  cloud  of 
kites.  Captured  and  disarmed,  they  needed  nobody  to 


184  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

set  them  going.  The  fire  of  their  own  comrades  was  like 
spurs  in  a  horse's  flanks,  and  amid  the  tempest  of  their 
own  brewing  they  ran  for  dear  life,  until  they  dropped 
like  quails  into  the  Federal  rifle-pits  and  were  safe.  But 
our  gallant  legions  are  out  in  the  storm ;  they  have  car- 
ried the  works  at  the  base  of  the  ridge  ;  they  have  fallen 
like  leaves  in  winter  weather.  Blow,  dumb  bugles  ! 

"  Sound  the  recall !  i  Take  the  rifle-pit,'  was  the  or- 
der ;  and  it  is  as  empty  of  rebels  as  the  tomb  of  the 
prophets.  Shall  they  turn  their  backs  to  the  blast?  Shall 
they  sit  down  under  the  eaves  of  that  dripping-iron  ?  Or 
shall  they  dimb  to  the  cloud  of  death  above  them,  and 
pluck  out  its  lightnings  as  they  would  straws  from  a  sheaf 
of  wheat  ?  But  the  order  was  not  given.  And  now  the 
arc  of  fire  on  the  crest  grows  fiercer  and  longer.  The 
reeonnoissance  of  Monday  had  failed  to  develop  the  heavy 
metal  of  the  enemy.  The  dull  fringe  of  the  hill  kindles 
with  the  flash  of  great  guns. 

u  At  this  moment  General  Granger's  aides  are  dashing 
out  with  an  order ;  they  radiate  over  the  field,  to  left, 
right,  and  front :  *  Take  the  Ridge  if  you  can ' — '  Take 
the  Ridge  if  you  can ' — and  so  it  went  along  the  line. 
But  the  advance  had  already  set  forth  without  it.  Stout- 
hearted Wood,  the  iron-gray  veteran,  is  rallying  on  his 
men  ;  stormy  Turchin  is  delivering  brave  words  in  bad 
English  ;  Sheridan — i  little  Phil ' — you  may  easily  look 
down  upon  him  without  climbing  a  tree,  and  see  one  of  the 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL-  SHERIDAN.  185 

most  gallant  leaders  of  the  age  if  you  do — is  riding  to  and 
fro  along  the  first  line  of  rifle-pits,  as  calmly  as  a  chess- 
player. An  aide  rides  up  with  the  order.  '  Avery,  that 
flask/- said  the  General.  Quietly  filling  the  pewter  cup, 
Sheridan  looks  up  at  the  battery  that  frowns  above  him, 
by  Bragg's  headquarters,  shakes  his  cap  amid  that  storm 
of  every  thing  that  kills,  when  you  could  hardly  hold 
your  hand  without  catching  a  bullet  in  it,  and  with  a 
1  How  are  you  ?  *  tosses  off  the  cup.  The  blue  battle-flag 
of  the  rebels  fluttered  a  response  to  the  cool  salute,  and 
the  next  instant  the  battery  let  fly  its  six  guns,  showering 
Sheridan  with  earth.  Alluding  to  that  compliment  with 
any  thing  but  a  blank  cartridge,  the  General  said  to  me 

in  his  quiet  way,  '  I  thought  it ungenerous  ! '     The 

recording  angel  will  drop  a  tear  upon  the  word  for  the 
part  he  played  that  day,  Wheeling  toward  the  men,  he 
cheered  them  to  the  charge,  and  made  at  the  hill  like  a 
bold-riding  hunter ;  they  were  out  of  the  rifle-pits  and 
into  the  tempest  and  struggling  up  the  steep,  before  you 
could  get  breath  to  tell  it,  and  so  they  were  throughout 
the  inspired  line. 

"  And  now  you  have  before  you  one  of  the  most  start- 
ling episodes  of  the  war ;  I  cannot  render  it  in  words ; 
dictionaries  are  beggarly  things.  But  I  may  tell  you  they 
did  not  storm  that  mountain  as  you  would  think.  They 
dash  out  a  little  way,  and  then  slacken ;  they  creep  up, 
hand  over  hand,  loading  and  firing,  and  wavering  and 


186  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

halting,  from  the  first  line  of  works  to  the  second ;  they 
burst  into  a  charge  with  a  cheer,  and  go  over  it.  Sheets 
of  flame  baptize  them ;  plunging  shot  tear  away  comrades 
on  left  and  right ;  it  is  no  longer  shoulder  to  shoulder  ;  it 
is  God  for  us  all !  Under  tree-trunks,  among  rocks, 
stumbling  over  the  dead,  struggling  with  the  living,  facing 
the  steady  fire  "of  eight  thousand  infantry  poured  down 
upon  their  heads  as  if  it  were  the  old  historic  curse  from 
heaven,  they  wrestle  with  the  Ridge.  Ten,  fifteen,  twenty 
minutes  go  by  like  a  reluctant  century.  The  batteries 
roll  like  a  drum ;  between  the  second  and  last  lines  of 
rebel  works  is  the  torrid  zone  of  the  battle  ;  the  hill  sways 
up  like  a  wall  before  them  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  de- 
grees, but  our  brave  mountaineers  are  clambering  steadily 
on — up — upward  still !  You  may  think  it  strange,  but  I 
would  not  have  recalled  them  if  I  could.  They  would 
have  lifted  you,  as  they  did  me,  in  full  view  of  the  heroic 
grandeur ;  they  seemed  to  be  spurning  the  dull  earth 
under  their  feet,  and  going  up  to  do  Homeric  battle  with 
the  greater  gods. 

"  And  what  do  those  men  follow?  If  you  look  you 
shall  see  that  the  thirteen  thousand  are  not  a  rushing  herd 
jf  human  creatures  ;  that  along  the  Gothic  roof  of  the 
Ridge  a  row  of  inverted  V's  is  slowly  moving  up  almost 
in  line,  a  mighty  lettering  on  the  hill's  broad  side.  At 
the  angles  of  those  V's  is  something  that  glitters  like  a 
wing.  Your  heart  gives  a  great  bound  when  you  think 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  187 

what  it  is — the  regimental  flag — and  glancing  along  the 
front  count  fifteen  of  those  colors  that  were  borne  at  Pea 
Ridge,  waved  at  Shiloh,  glorified  at  Stone  Biver,  riddled 
at  Chickamauga.  Nobler  than  Cesar's  rent  mantle  are 
they  all !  And  up  move  the  banners,  now  fluttering  like 
a  wounded  bird,  now  faltering,  now  sinking  out  of  sight. 
Three  times  the  flag  of  one  regiment  goes  down.  And 
you  know  why.  Three  dead  color-sergeants  lie  just 
there,  but  the  flag  is  immortal — thank  God  ! — and  up  it 
comes  again,  and  the  V's  move  on.  At  the  left  of  Wood, 
three  regiments  of  Baird — Turchin,  the  Russian  thunder- 
bolt, is  there — hurl  themselves  against  a  bold  point  strong 
with  rebel  works,  for  a  long  quarter  of  an  hour  three 
flags  are  perched  and  motionless  on  a  plateau  under  the 
frown  of  the  hill.  Will  they  linger  forever?  I  give  a 
look  at  the  sun  behind  me  ;  it  is  not  more  than  a  hand's 
breadth  from  the  edge  of  the  mountain ;  its  level  rays 
bridge  the  valley  from  Chattanooga  to  the  Ridge  with 
beams  of  gold  ;  it  shines  in  the  rebel  faces  ;  it  brings  out 
the  Federal  blue ;  it  touches  up  the  flags.  Oh,  for  the 
voice  that  could  bid  that  sun  stand  still !  I  turn  to  the 
battle  again :  those  three  flags  have  taken  flight !  They 
are  upward  bound. 

"  The  race  of  the  flags  is  growing  every  moment  more 
terrible.  There  at  the  right,  a  strange  thing  catches  the 
eye;  one  of  the  inverted  V's  is  turning  right  side  up. 
The  men  struggling  along  the  converging  lines  to  over- 


188  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEBIDAN. 

take  the  flag  have  distanced  it,  and  there  the  colors  are, 
sinking  down  in  the  centre  between  the  rising  flanks. 
The  line  wavers  like  a  great  billow  and  up  comes  the 
banner  again,  as  if  heaved  on  a  surge's  shoulder.  The 
iron  sledges  beat  on.  Hearts,  loyal  and  brave,  are  on  the 
anvil,  all  the  way  from  base  to  summit  of  Mission  Ridge, 
but  those  dreadful  hammers  never  intermit.  Swarms  of 
bullets  sweep  the  hill ;  you  can  count  twenty-eight  balls 
in  one  little  tree.  Things  are  growing  desperate  up  aloft ; 
the  rebels  tumble  rocks  upon  the  rising  line ;  they  light 
the  fuses  and  roll  shells  down  the  steep  ;  they  load  the 
guns  with  haudfuls  of  cartridges  in  their  haste  ;  and  as  if 
there  were  powder  in  the  word,  they  shout  '  Chicka- 
mauga ! '  down  upon  the  mountaineers.  But  it  would 
not  all  do,  and  just  as  the  sun,  weary  of  the  scene,  was 
sinking  out  of  sight,  with  magnificent  bursts  all  along  the 
line,  exactly  as  you  have  seen  the  crested  seas  leap  up  at 
the  breakwater,  the  advance  surged  over  the  crest,  and  in 
a  minute  those  flags  fluttered  along  the  fringe  where  fifty 
rebel  guns  were  kennelled.  God  bless  the  flag !  God  save 
the  Union ! 

"  What  colors  were  first  upon  the  mountain  battle- 
ment I  dare  not  try  to  say ;  bright  honor  itself  may  be 
proud  to  bear — nay,  proud  to  follow  the  hindmost.  Foot 
by  foot  they  had  fought  up  the  steep,  slippery  with  much 
blood  ;  let  them  go  to  glory  together.  A  minute  and  they 
tvere  all  there,  fluttering  along  the  Eidge  from  left  to  right 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  189 

The  rebel  hordes  rolled  off  to  the  north,  rolled  off  to  the 
east,  like  the  clouds  of  a  worn-out  storm.  Bragg,  ten 
minutes  before,  was  putting  men  back  in  the  rifle-pits. 
His  gallant  gray  was  straining  a  nerve  for  him  now,  and 
the  man  rode  on  horseback  into  Dixie's  bosom,  who,  ar- 
rayed in  some  prophet's  discarded  mantle,  foretold  on 
Monday  that  the  Yankees  would  leave  Chattanooga  in 
five  days.  They  left  in  three,  and  by  way  of  Mission 
Ridge,  straight  over  the  mountains  as  their  forefathers 
went !  As  Sheridan  rode  up  to  the  guns,  the  heels  of 
Breckinridge's  horse  glittered  in  the  last  rays  of  sunshine. 
That  crest  was  hardly  '  well  off  with  the  old  love  before 
it  was  on  with  the  new.' 

"But  the  scene  on  the  narrow  plateau  can  never  be 
painted.  As  the  blue  coats  surged  over  its  edge,  cheer 
on  cheer  rang  like  bells  through  the  valley  of  the  Chicka- 
mauga.  Men  flung  themselves  exhausted  upon  the 
ground.  They  laughed  and  wept,  shook  hands,  em- 
braced ;  turned  round  and  did  all  four  over  again.  It 
was  as  wild  as  a  carnival.  Granger  was  received  with 
a  shout.  '  Soldiers,'  he  said,  '  you  ought  to  be  court- 
martialed  every  man  of  you.  I  ordered  you  to  take  the 
rifle-pits  and  you  scaled  the  mountain ! '  but  it  was  not 
Mars'  horrid  front  exactly  with  which  he  said  it,  for  his 
cheeks  were  wet  with  tears  as  honest  as  the  blood  that 
reddened  all  the  rout.  Wood  uttered  words  that  rang 
like  '  Napoleon's,'  and  Sheridan,  the  rowels  at  his  horse's 


190  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

flanks,  was  ready  for  a  dash  down  the  Ridge  with  a 
4  view  halloo,*  for  a  fox  hunt. 

"  But  you  must  not  think  this  was  all  there  was  of  the 
scene  on  the  crest,  for  fight  and  frolic  was  strangely  min- 
gled. Not  a  rebel  had  dreamed  a  man  of  us  all  would  live 
to  reach  the  summit,  and  when  a  little  wave  of  the  Fed- 
eral cheer  rolled  up  and  broke  over  the  crest,  they  defiantly 

cried  *  Hurrah  and  be  d d  ! '  the  next  minute  a  Union 

regiment  followed  the  voice,  the  rebels  delivered  their  fire, 
and  tumbled  down  in  the  rifle-pits,  their  faces  distorted 
with  fear.  No  sooner  had  the  soldiers  scrambled  to  the 
Ridge  and  straightened  themselves,  than  up  muskets  and 
away  they  blazed.  One  of  them,  fairly  beside  himself 
between  laughing  and  crying,  seemed  puzzled  at  which  end 
of  his  piece  he  should  load,  and  so  abandoning  the  gun  and 
the  problem  together,  he  made  a  catapult  of  himself  and 
fell  to  hurling  stones  after  the  enemy.  And  he  said,  as  he 
threw — well,  you  know  our  '  army  swore  terribly  in 
Flanders.'  Bayonets  glittered  and  muskets  rattled. 
General  Sheridan's  horse  was  killed  under  him  ;  Richard 
was  not  in  his  role,  and  so  he  leaped  upon  a  rebel  gun  for 
want  of  another.  Rebel  artillerists  are  driven  from  their 
batteries  at  the  edge  of  the  sword  and  the  point  of  the 
bayonet ;  two  rebel  guns  are  swung  around  upon  their  old 
masters.  But  there  is  nobody  to  load  them.  Light  and 
heavy  artillery  do  not  belong  to  the  winged  kingdom. 
Two  infantry  men  claiming  to  be  old  artillerists,  volunteer. 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  191 

Granger  turns  captain  of  the  guns,  and — right  about  wheel ! 
— in  a  moment  they  are  growling  after  the  flying  enemy. 
I  say  ;  flying/  but  that  is  figurative.  The  many  run  like 
Spanish  merinos,  but  the  few  fight  like  gray  wolves  at 
bay ;  they  load  and  fire  as  they  retreat ;  they  are  fairly 
scorched  out  of  position. 

"  A  sharpshooter,  fancying  Granger  to  be  worth  the  pow- 
der, coolly  tries  his  hand  at  him.  The  General  hears  the 
zip  of  a  ball  at  one  ear,  but  doesn't  mind  it.  In  a  minute 
away  it  sings  at  the  other.  He  takes  the  hint,  sweeps 
with  his  glass  the  direction  whence  the  couple  came,  and 
brings  up  the  marksman,  just  drawing  a  bead  upon  him 
again.  At  that  instant  a  Federal  argument  persuades  the 
cool  hunter  and  down  he  goes.  That  long  range  gun  of 
his  was  captured,  weighed  twenty-four  pounds,  was  tele- 
scope-mounted, a  sort  of  mongrel  howitzer. 

"  A  colonel  is  slashing  away  with  his  sabre  in  a  ring 
of  rebels.  Down  goes  his  horse  under  him  ;  they  have 
him  on  the  hip  ;  one  of  them  is  taking  deliberate  aim,  when 
up  rushes  a  lieutenant,  claps  a  pistol  to  one  ear  and  roars 
in  at  the  other,  '  Who  are  you  shooting  at  ? '  The  fellow 
drops  his  piece,  gasps  out,  '  I  surrender/  and  the  next  in- 
stant the  gallant  lieutenant  falls  sharply  wounded.  He  is 
a  ;  roll  of  honor '  officer,  straight  up  from  the  ranks,  and 
he  honors  the  roll. 

"  A  little  German  in  Wood's  division  is  pierced  like  the 
lid  of  a  pepper  box,  but  is  neither  dead  nor  wounded. 


192  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

*  See  here/  he  says,  rushing  up  to  a  comrade, '  a  pullet  hit 
te  preach  of  mine  gun,  a  pullet  in  mine  pocket-book — a 
pullet  in  mine  coat  tail — they  shoots  me  tree,  five  time, 
and  I  gives  dem  h — 1  yet ! ' 

"  But  I  can  render  you  no  idea  of  the  battle  caldron 
that  boiled  on  the  plateau.  An  incident  here  and  there 
I  have  given  you,  and  you  must  fill  out  the  picture  for 
yourself.  Dead  rebels  lay  thick  around  Bragg's  head- 
quarters and  along  the  Ridge.  Scabbards,  broken  arms, 
artillery  horses,  wrecks  of  gun-carriages,  and  bloody  gar- 
ments strewed  the  scene  ;  and,  tread  lightly,  oh !  loyal- 
hearted,  the  boys  in  blue  are  lying  there ;  no  more  the 
sounding  charge,  no  more  the  brave,  wild  cheer,  and  never 
for  them,  sweet  as  the  breath  of  the  new-mown  hay  in  the 
old  home  fields,  4  The  Soldier's  Return  from  the  War.'  A 
little  waif  of  a  drummer-boy,  somehow  drifted  up  the 
mountain  in  the  surge,  lies  there ;  his  pale  face  upward, 
a  blue  spot  on  his  breast.  Muffle  his  drum  for  the  poor 
child  and  his  mother. 

"  Our  troops  met  one  loyal  welcome  on  the  height. 
How  the  old  Tennesseean  that  gave  it  managed  to  get  there 
nobody  knows,  but  there  he  was,  grasping  a  colonel's  hand, 
and  saying,  while  the  tears  ran  down  his  face,  '  GOD  be 
thanked !  I  knew  the  Yankees  would  fight ! '  With  the 
receding  flight  and  swift  pursuit  the  battle  died  away  in 
murmurs,  far  down  the  valley  of  the  Chickamauga ; 
Sheridan  was  again  in  the  saddle,  and  with  his  command 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  193 

spurring  on  after  the  enemy.  Tall  columns  of  smoke  were 
rising  at  the  left.  The  rebels  were  burning  a,  train  of 
stores  a  mile  long.  In  the  exploding  rebel  caissons  we 
had  '  the  cloud  by  day,'  and  now  we  are  having '  the  pillar 
of  fire  by  night.'  The  sun,  the  golden  dish  of  the  scales 
that  balance  day  and  night,  had  hardly  gone  down,  when 
up  beyond  Mis'sion  Ridge  rose  the  silver  side,  for  that 
night  it  was  full  moon.  The  troubled  day  was  done.  A  Fed- 
eral General  sat  in  the  seat  of  the  man  who,  on  the  very 
Saturday  before  the  battle,  had  sent  a  flag  to  the  Federal 
lines  with  the  words  : 

" '  Humanity  would  dictate  the  removal  of  all  non- 
combatants  from  Chattanooga,  as  I  am  about  to  shell  the 
city ! ' 

44  Sat  there,  and  announced  to  the  Fourth  Corps  the 
congratulations  and  thanks,  just  placed  in  his  hands,  from 
the  commander  of  the  department : 

BRAGGS'  HEADQUARTERS,  MISSION  RIDGE,  November  25,  1863. 
"  '  In  conveying  to  you  this  distinguished  recognition 
of  your  signal  gallantry  in  carrying,  through  a  terrible 
storm  of  iron,  a  mountain  crowned  with  batteries  and  en- 
riched with  rifle-pits,  I  am  constrained  to  express  my  own 
admiration  of  your  noble  conduct,  and  am  proud  to  tell  you 
that  the  veteran  Generals  from  other  fields,  who  witnessed 
your  heroic  bearing,  place  your  assault  and  triumph  among 
the  most  brilliant  achievements  of  the  war.  Thanks, 


194  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

soldiers !     You  have  made,  this  day,  a  glorious  page  of 
history.  GORDON  GRANGER/  " 

Such  were  the  bloody  days  of  Chattanooga,  days  of 
unsurpassed  heroism,  which  covered  with  the  highest 
glory  of  war  in  a  righteous  cause,  the  heroes  of  the  Cum- 
berland army,  among  whom  the  still  youthful  "  Phil"  had 
no  rival.  There  were  scenes  on  the  sanguinary  field  and 
in  the  hospitals  such  as  were  never  witnessed  before  the 
war  of  national  redemption  through  which  we  have  pass- 
ed. I  shall  give  an  illustration  of  the  spirit  that  animated 
our  uncomplaining  soldier  boys.  At  Nashville  a  wounded 
hero  was  lying  on  the  amputating  table,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  chloroform.  They  cut  off  his  strong  right  arm, 
and  cast  it,  all  bleeding,  upon  the  pile  of  human  limbs. 
They  then  laid  him  gently  upon  his  couch.  He  woke 
from  his  stupor  and  missed  his  arm.  With  his  left  arm 
he  lifted  the  cloth,  and  there  was  nothing  but  the  gory 
stump  !  "  Where's  my  arm  ?"  he  cried  ;  "  get  my  arm  ; 
I  want  to  see  it  once  more — my  strong  right  arm."  They 
brought  it  to  him.  He  took  hold  of  the  cold,  clammy 
fingers,  and  looking  steadfastly  at  the  poor  dead  member, 
thus  addressed  it  with  tearful  earnestness  :  "  Good-bye, 
old  arm.  We  have  been  a  long  time  together.  Wo 
must  part  now.  Good-bye,  old  arm.  You'll  never  fire 
another  carbine  nor  swing  another  sabre  for  the  Govern- 
ment"— and  the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks.  He  theo 


LIFE  OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  195 

said  to  those  standing  by,  "  Understand  :  I  don't  regret  its 
loss.  It  has  been  torn  from  my  body  that  not  one  State 
should  be  torn  from  this  glorious  Union."  He  might 
have  added : 

"  Some  things  are  worthless,  some  others  so  good 
That  nations  that  buy  them  pay  only  in  blood ; 
For  Freedom  and  Union  each  man  owes  his  part, 
And  here  I  pay  my  share,  all  warm  from  my  heart." 

In  the  same  city  was  another  and  very  remarkable 
case  of  suffering,  barbarity,  and  heroism.  The  surgeon 
relates  the  facts,  which  transpired  under  his  eye : 
"  While  the  regiment  to  which  young  Vance  belonged 
was  scouting  near  Taylorsville,  Tennessee,  he  and  a  com- 
panion were  taken  prisoners.  During  the  next  twenty- 
four  hours  their  captors  treated  them  kindly.  They 
neither  saw  nor  heard  any  thing  to  lead  them  to  suspect 
that  any  different  treatment  was  in  store  for  them  till  they 
came  within  a  mile  or  two  of  Lebanon.  Here  the  rebels 
wished  to  be  free  from  the  care  of  their  prisoners.  They 
therefore  tied  them  to  a  tree.  A  Captain  French,  of  the 
rebel  army,  objected  to  the  plan  of  leaving  them  thus 
pinioned,  and  at  once  coolly  and  calmly  drew  his  revolver 
and  fired  three  shots  through  the  head  of  each  as  they 
were  pinioned  to  the  trees.  His  companion  was  at  once 
despatched  ;  but  as  Vance  was  unfastened  he  fell  forward 
on  his  face,  and  another  of  the  rebel  band,  named  Cart 
wright,  fired  the  fourth  shot  through  the  victim's  head. 


196  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  Vance  assures  me  that  he  did  not  at  any  time  lose 
his  consciousness.  He  heard  all  they  said  and  knew  all 
they  did.  Here  he  lay  twenty-six  hours,  during  the  4th 
and  5th  of  April,  when  he  was  discovered  by  some  of  our 
troops  and  brought  into  camp,  and  his  wounds  dressed  by 
a  surgeon  of  one  of  the  Ohio  regiments.  Nothing  was 
done  for  him  till  thirty-two  hours  after  he  was  wounded. 
These  are  the  facts.  Now  for  the  nature  of  the  wounds. 

"  They  were  inflicted  by  the  large  revolver  used  by 
our  cavalry,  and  the  cold-blooded  murderers  fired  within 
a  yard  of  the  pinioned  victim's  head.  The  first  shot  took 
effect  about  an  inch  back  and  below  the  right  cheek-bone, 
and  came  out  on  the  opposite  side,  about  the  same  distance 
from  the  left  cheek-bone.  The  second  ball  entered  about 
an  inch  and  a  half  below,  and  a  little  nearer  the  ear  than 
the  first,  and  passing  through  in  the  same  line  as  the  first, 
breaking  the  jaws  and  loosening  the  teeth.  The  third  en- 
tered the  neck  just  below  and  in  a  line  vertical  to  the 
lower  tip  of  the  ear.  This  lodged  in  the  opposite  side  of  the 
neck,  from  whence  the  surgeon  removed  it.  The  fourth — 
the  one  that  had  been  inflicted  by  Cartwright,  after  he  had 
been  thrown  on  his  face — entered  back  of  his  ear,  about 
the  centre  of  combativeness,  and  escaped  through  his  left 
eye,  completely  destroying  it.  And  yet  John  W.  Vance 
lives  and  looks  well  and  hearty.  He  is  an  intelligent,  fine 
looking  young  man,  just  arrived  at  his  majority.  I  sat 
half  an  hour  on  the  adjoining  cot,  and  conversed  with  him 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  SHERIDAN.  197 

and  examined  his  wounds  while  he  was  eating  his  dinner ; 
and  he  ate  with  the  relish  of  a  man  who  loves  life  and 
desires  to  prolong  it.  The  loss  of  his  left  eye  will  be  his 
only  real  disfigurement.  But  how  it  was  possible  for  four 
leaden  messengers  of  death  to  pass  through  the  parts  they 
did  without  proving  mortal  is  a  marvellous  problem." 

Compare  with  the  uncomplaining  anguish  of  the  noble 
Western  boys  for  the  honor  of  the  old  flag,  the  lurking 
treason  revealed  in  the  pencilling  on  the  fly-leaf  of  a 
Prayer-Book  found  in  one  of  the  churches  there : 

"  Hurrah  for  John  Morgan !  The  Marion  of  the 
South,  following  his  footsteps  as  much  so  as  the  Apostles 
followed  the  footsteps  of  Christ." 

"  There  shall  be  a  Southern  Confederacy,  so  saith  the 
Apostle  Paul.  Se«  third  verse,  chapter  fourth.  Acts  of 
the  Apostles." 

"  Hurrah  for  Jeff  Davis  and  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy !  the  Lincoln  hordes  and  Hessians  ;  polluting 

the  homes  and  lands  of  Southern  men !  Hurrah  for 
Stonewall  Jackson,  the  Deliverer  of  the  Southern  Soil,  to 
»ur  Southern  Brethren.  P.  P.  PHILLIPS/'' 

What  would  Mr.  Phillips  now  write  under  this  note  in 
uis  "  Book  of  Common-Prayer"  ? 


CHAPTER  X. 


Re  pursuit  of  the  Kebel  Army— Off  for  Knoxville— In  East  Tennessee— 4 

Conference  of  Generals— Sheridan  at  Washington— Succeeds  General  Pleaa- 
anton  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac — First  Duty  in  his  new  Field. 


prevent  a  successful  rally  of  the  shattered 
army  of  the  Confederacy  within  reach  of  our 
forces,  a  pursuit  was  immediately  ordered.  At 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  columns  were  in 
motion.  Before  noon,  when  near  Chickamauga 
depot,  they  saw  the  flames  of  its  conflagration.  On  ap- 
proaching it,  heaps  of  corn  and  meal  were  burning. 
Here  the  "  boys"  saved,  fit  for  use,  one  pontoon  train  of 
fifteen  boats,  two  sixty-pounder  guns,  twenty  army  wag- 
ons, sixty  thousand  rations  of  shelled  corn,  fifty  thousand 
rations  of  corn  meal,  four  hundred  gallons  of  molasses, 
two  caissons,  six  forges,  thirty  barrels  of  pork,  one  thou- 
sand pounds  of  bacon,  some  ordnance  stores,  artillery,  and 
small-arm  ammunition.  The  carriages  on  which  the 
siege  guns  were  mounted  were  found  in  flames,  and  be- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  199 

came  eventually  totally  destroyed.  One  of  the  guns  was 
spiked  with  a  wrought  nail. 

The  place  presented  a  curious  sight.  A  burning  rail- 
road depot,  piles  of  burning  corn  meal,  barrels  and  boxes 
scattered  around  in  the  wildest  confusion,  piles  of  bacon 
lying  on  the  railroad  track,  shelled  corn  scattered  in  piles 
around  the  railroad  platform,  two  heavy  guns  pointed  in 
the  direction  of  the  expected  Yankees,  their  carriages 
in  flames  ;  a  pontoon  train,  new,  and  apparently  never 
used,  massed  near  the  station  ;  army  wagons — some  good 
and  some  broken  down — turned  over,  on  end,  and  every 
way  displayed,  in  whatever  direction  the  eye  might  turn ; 
small  arms  lying  around,  some  broken  and  some  not ; 
broken  open  boxes  of  ammunition  for  small  arms  thrown 
here  and  there,  by  the  fire  and  away  from  it ;  a  caisson 
on  one  side,  limber  chest  on  the  other,  half  open ;  shells 
scattered  under  it,  broken  wheels,  tongues  of  wagons,  and 
other  things  pertaining  to  army  transportation,  thrown  to 
the  right  and  left,  far  and  near,  on  all  sides,  and  in  the 
moat  disordered  manner,  showing  that  the  enemy  left  with 
the  greatest  precipitancy,  and  before  he  could  complete 
the  destruction  of  one-third  of  his  commissary,  quarter- 
master, or  ordnance  stores. 

On  an  examination  of  the  hills  and  fields  around  the 
station,  breastworks  and  redoubts  were  found.  The  latter 
were  well  constructed,  and  if  properly  manned  could  not 
have  been  taken  without  considerable  loss  ^f  life,  and 


200  LITE   OF   GENEEAL   SHEEIDAN. 

without  such  manoeuvring  as  pertains  to  regular  opera- 
tions for  battle. 

The  inhabitants  found  in  the  place  (which  is  but  a 
small  one)  were  few.  They  were  so  frightened  at  what 
had  occurred,  that  it  was  some  time  before  our  men  could 
get  from  them  intelligent  answers  to  their  questions.  Even 
after  they  had  a  chance  to  get  a  little  quieted,  all  they 
would  tell  was  that  on  the  night  previous,  about  eleven 
o'clock,  the  rebels  commenced  the  movement  of  their 
stores — loading  their  teams  and  moving  them  off  as  fast 
as  possible  ;  and  that  finally  they  set  fire  to  what  stores 
they  could,  when  they  found  the  Yankees  pressing  them, 
and  left  the  place  on  a  full  run. 

Meanwhile  General  Longstreet  was  busy  with  his  in- 
vestment of  Knoxville  ;  an  expensive  toy  in  the  field  of 
national  conflict  it  proved  to  be.  And  beginning  to  feel  the 
insecurity  of  his  position — Bragg  being  dislodged  from  his 
stronghold,  and  flying  from  the  Union  front — he  deter- 
mined to  retrieve  the  dishonor,  so  far  as  his  connection 
with  the  army  was  concerned,  by  an  attack  upon  our  for- 
tifications. November  29th,  1863,  there  is  a  stir  along 
his  lines.  A  little  later  the  rebel  columns  appear  moving 
toward  Fort  Saunders.  Then  a  desperate  cannonade 
opens,  and  the  garrison  replies.  For  a  while  the  storm 
of  impotent  wrath  beats  hotly  against  the  walls  of  the 
works  which  guard  the  troops  of  Burnside  within,  safely 
resting  in  the  pleasant  city  of  Knoxville.  Compelled  to 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  201 

fall  back,  the  proud  chief  found  our  forces  gradually  gath 
ering,  like  an  anaconda  coil,  around  him.  Among  the 
environing  troops  was  the  division  of  General  Sheridan, 
in  General  Sherman's  command.  The  rebel  leader  could 
do  nothing  better  than  make  his  escape.  Raising  the 
siege,  he  turned  his  face  toward  Virginia,  followed  by  the 
cavalry. 

It  will  both  amuse  and  interest  the  reader  to  see  how 
the  rebels  felt  in  the  vicinity  of  these  operations.  A 
prominent  traitor  telegraphed  from  Resaca  to  Richmond 
these  words  of  alarm :  "  Grant  has  proved  that  he  can 
do  what  so  few  of  our  generals  have  been  able  to  accom- 
plish— follow  up  a  victory  in  spite  of  natural  obstacles  ; 
and  it  is  certain  that  he  will  not  permit  himself  now  to  be 
stopped,  either  by  mud  or  by  a  want  of  cars.  These 
difficulties  are  by  no  means  insurmountable. 

"  Every  one  remembers  the  sanguine  predictions  of 
the  impossibility  of  carrying  on  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
Gentlemen  owning  plantations  on  which  Grant's  army 
was  encamped  before  Vicksburg,  declared  that  the  sol- 
diers would  perish  for  lack  of  water,  or  die  like  sheep 
with  the  rot,  from  drinking  such  as  they  could  obtain. 
Moreover,  we  were  told  that  the  malarious  diseases  of 
the  climate  would  decimate  his  army,  and  compel  him  to 
raise  the  siege.  Further,  it  was  stated  by  the  same  re- 
liable operator,  who  is  now  at  work  in  Atlanta,  cheering 
us  with  the  assurance  that  the  Yankees  lost  at  least  twenty 


202  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

thousand  men  in  the  assault  on  Lookout  Mountain,  that 
Grant  had  lost  quite  fifty  thousand  of  the  flower  of  his 
army  in  the  various  attempts  to  storm  the  intrenchments 
at  Vicksburg.  How  utterly  fallacious  all  these  predic- 
ions  and  assertions  proved !  The  siege  of  Vicksburg 
progressed  steadily  to  its  conclusion,  without,  so  far  as 
we  have  ever  learned,  any  serious  impediment  whatever. 
In  spite  of  water,  climate,  diseases,  and  repeated  repulses, 
Grant  compelled  Pemberton  to  surrender  in  less  than 
three  months  from  the  day  the  siege  began. 

"  Shall  we  again  be  the  dupes  of  ill-founded  hopes  ? 
Shall  we  rely  for  safety  upon  mud  and  not  upon  men  ? 
Shall  we  trust  to  cars  and  not  to  energy  ?  Heaven  forbid  ! 
The  railroad  from  Nashville  to  Chattanooga  is,  doubtless, 
now  open,  and  trains  running  all  the  way  through.  On 
this  railroad  any  quantity  of  cars  and  engines  necessary 
to  stock  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  may  be 
brought  through  in  less  than  a  week's  time.  Two  weeks 
more  will  be  all  that  Yankee  activity  and  ingenuity  will 
demand  to  complete  the  rebuilding  of  burned  bridges. 
But  we  doubt  if  Grant  will  await  the  arrival  of  cars  and 
the  completion  of  bridges.  He  has  plenty  of  transpor- 
tation, and  the  whole  North  behind  him  to  supply  horses 
and  wagons  as  fast  as  they  break  down.  *  *  *  * 
What  is  to  be  done  must  be  done  without  one  moment's 
delay,  and  much  must  be  given  up  in  order  that  something 
may  be  saved.  Grant's  goal  is  Atlanta.  He  will  be  there 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  203 

before  Christmas,  and  half  the  cotton  remaining  in  the 
Confederacy  will  be  in  his  hands  or  destroyed,  unless  a 
truly  great  general  and  a  great  army  are  placed  athwart 
his  path  within  three  weeks  from  this  day." 

A  few  weeks  later,  in  February,  General  Sheridan 
was  sent  with  two  divisions  into  East  Tennessee  to  finish 
the  work  of  driving  out  the  rebels.  Having  accom- 
plished the  objects  of  his  expedition,  he  returned  to  Chat- 
tanooga. 

March  9th  General  Grant  was  summoned  to  the 
presidential  mansion,  being  then  in  Washington,  to  meet 
the  Cabinet  and  other  officials,  and  receive  at  the  hand 
of  the  Chief  Magistrate  the  commission  of  Lieut.-General 
of  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  Soon  after  a  confer- 
ence of  the  leading  generals  was  called  by  him  at  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  to  confer  with  him  respecting  a  new  pro- 
gramme of  war.  General  Sheridan  was  there,  with  his 
cheerful,  modest,  yet  brave  words  of  loyalty  and  martial 
enthusiasm.  He  was  subsequently  ordered  to  report  t~> 
Washington.  General  Grant,  riding  along  the  battle- 
swept  ridge  during  the  battle  at  Chattanooga,  had  marked 
him  for  one  of  his  few  great  leaders  in  the  future  cam- 
paigns. Still,  when  relieved  from  his  command,  he  was 
in  the  dark  regarding  his  fate.  He  passed  through  Nash- 
ville, but  could  not  tell  his  friends  why  he  was  en  route 
for  the  national  capital. 

It  was  soon  announced,  however,  that  the  Lieutenant- 


204:  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    feHEEIDAN. 

General  had  placed  Sheridan  in  command  of  all  his  cav- 
alry on  the  Potomac — in  the  place  of  General  Pleas- 
anton,  who  was  ordered  to  Missouri,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Rosecrans — displaying  the  discrimina- 
tion of  Napoleon  in  the  selection  of  his  generals,  not  only 
in  this  instance  but  in  all  his  appointments.  Sheridan  had 
now  a  theatre  of  action  suited  to  his  genius,  and  the 
crowning  mark  of  his  glorious  career  as  a  soldier.  With 
the  fine  ardor  of  heroism  inspired  by  the  consciousnees  of 
this  grand  field  of  action,  under  the  eye  of  Grant,  and 
before  the  Potomac  army,  whose  watchword  for  four 
years  had  been,  "  On  to  Richmond ! "  he  at  once  thor- 
oughly organized  his  large  force  into  three  divisions, 
under  able  officers,  and  reported  himself  ready  for 
duty. 

May  3d  the  order  is  issued  by  General  Grant  to 
march.  Tents  disappear,  and  the  arms  and  munitions  of 
a  magnificent  army  are  prepared  for  the  advance  to  bloody 
strife  and  victory. 

May  4th,  the  Rubicon  in  the  march — the  Rapidan — is 
crossed.  Look  on  the  princely  generals  at  4he  head  of 
those  columns !  The  iron  man,  Hancock,  leading  the 
second  corps,  makes  the  passage  at  Ely's  Ford ;  and  the 
lion-hearted  Sedgwick  at  the  head  of  the  Sixth,  with  the 
youthful  Warren  commanding  the  Fifth,  go  over  on  the 
pontoon  causeway  at  Germania  Ford.  General  Burnside, 
commanding  the  rear  guard,  remained  still  on  the  north 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  205 

bank  of  the  river ;  and  where  is  the  ever-wide-awake 
"Phil.  Sheridan"? 

Away  the  troopers  are  flying  along  the  flanks  of  the 
moving  host,  for  the  protection  of  the  exposed  extremities, 
and  then  pushing  out  ahead  the  "  eyes  of  the  army"  to 
see  what  the  enemy  is  doing.  General  Grant's  plan  in 
the  "  onward  to  Richmond"  movement  was,  not  to  hurl 
his  battalions  on  Lee's  intrenchments,  but  marching  to 
the  eastward,  get  between  him  and  the  Confederate  cap- 
ital. This  would  bring  the  ablest  chieftain  of  the  rebel- 
lion from  behind  his  defences  to  fight,  or  compel  him  to 
fall  back  on  Richmond.  Into  the  tangled,  gullied,  and 
swampy  "wilderness"  of  Spottsylvania  County,  Vir- 
ginia, the  hosts  of  freedom  advanced. 

May  5th,  just  as  the  splendid  columns  turned  to  pass 
along  and  around  the  enemy's  lines,  aides  from  General 
Sheridan  rode  up  to  General  Meade  with  despatches. 
This  brave  commander  broke  the  seal,  read  a  moment, 
and  then  remarked  to  General  Grant,  "  They  say  that 
Lee  intends  to  fight  us  here  !  "  "  Verily  well,"  quietly 
responded  General  Grant.  A  brief  conversation  followed, 
during  which  the  plan  of  battle  was  matured. 

Soon  after  came  the  shock  of  the  meeting  armies. 
Generals  Ewell  and  Hill  hurled  their  corps  upon  the  col- 
umns of  Warren  and  Hancock,  concentrating  on  the  weak- 
est point,  which  was  at  the  centre,  if  possible  to  cut  the 

• 

army  in  two.     The  battle  was  most  terrific,  thundering 


206  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN. 

on,  while  the  darkness  and  night  curtained  the  arena  of 
slaughter.  At  length  Lee  retired.  Neither  he  nor  Gen- 
eral Grant  knew  the  real  condition  of  the  field.  The 
third  sanguinary  day  closed,  and  the  issue  was  still  unde- 
cided. But  on  Saturday,  the  9th,  our  troops  again  opened 
fire,  but  the  enemy  made  no  reply ;  he  was  falling  delib- 
erately back,  ready  to  pause  and  grapple  again  with 
General  Grant  whenever  necessary. 

Now  commenced  the  chase  for  Spottsylvania  Court 
House,  both  armies  anxious  to  secure  the  position.  The 
Sabbath  brought  only  a  partial  cessation  of  the  con- 
flict, with  its  solemn  scenes  of  prayer  and  praise  when- 
ever the  chaplain  could  hold  his  accustomed  service  or 
Christian  soldiers  were  grouped  together.  Monday,  the 
lion-hearted  Sedgwick,  while  directing  gun-mounting  on  a 
conspicuous  spot,  fell  before  the  sharpshooter's  bullet.  At 
night,  like  a  half-moon,  the  white  tents  of  the  rebel  host 
lay  around  Spottsylvania  Court  House ;  while  over 
against  it,  in  wider  curve,  was  the  Union  army. 

The  following  day  opened  anew  the  scenes  of  carnage 
Here  General  Grant  sent  his  first  despatch  to  Washing- 
ton. It  breathes  his  characteristic  tenacity  of  purpose 
and  unyielding  courage : 

"  We  have  now  entered  the  sixth  day  of  very  heavy 
fighting.  The  result,  to  this  time,  is  very  much  in  our 
favcr.  Our  looses  have  been  heavy,  as  well  as  those  of 
the  enemy.  I  think  the  loss  of  the  enemy  must  be 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  207 

greater.  We  have  taken  over  five  thousand  prisoners 
in  battle,  while  he  has  taken  from  us  but  few  strag- 
glers. I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it  takes  all 
summer." 

In  this  part  of  the  wasting  conflict  fell  the  Christian 
hero  General  Rice.  His  message  to  his  wife  was,  "  I  have 
been  true  to  my  country  ; "  and  his  words  to  those  around 
him  were,  "  Oh,  Jesus  is  very  near  !  " 

General  Grant  felt  that,  if  possible  to  reach  Richmond 
in  this  direction,  it  would  be  a  very  expensive  route.  He 
determined,  therefore,  upon  a  stroke  of  comprehensive 
and  daring  strategy,  which  was  to  swing  his  whole  army 
around  to  the  south  side  of  the  capital,  and  make  James 
River  the  base  of  supplies.  He  quietly  and  with  won- 
derful skill,  right  in  the  face  of  the  foe,  and  yet  before  the 
strategy  was  discerned,  removed  his  immense  army  across 
hostile  territory,  and  over  rivers,  to  the  more  hopeful  po- 
sition for  operations.  The  Confederate  chief  was  amazetf 
at  the  splendid  achievement,  which,  but  for  reenforce 
ments  sent  to  the  capital,  might  have  cost  him  his  strong- 
hold. As  it  was,  General  Grant  had  a  new  and  permanent 
base,  and  his  hand  fairly  on  his  enemy's  throat. 

During  the  week  of  reconnoitring  by  General  Sheridan 
that  followed  the  advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
he  had  sharp  engagements  with  rebel  forces  at  a  place 
called  Craig's  Church,  another  known  as  Parker's  Store, 
»nd  at  Todd's  Tavern.  To  the  cavalry  was  committed 


208  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

the  army  trains  and  the  ambulances  carrying  the  wounded 
of  the  sanguinary  march. 

On  the  9th  of  May  General  Meade  directed  General 
Sheridan  "  to  select  the  best  mounted  troops  of  his  com- 
mand and  start  off  on  an  expedition  to  the  rear  of  Lee's 
army,  and  cut  off  his  communications  and  supplies,  allow- 
ing him  full  discretion  as  to  the  best  plan  of  effecting  the 
object  of  the  expedition.  General  Sheridan  at  once  made 
preparation  for  this  important  movement,  selecting  the 
staff  officers  who  were  to  accompany  him,  ordering  the 
issuing  of  three  days'  rations  to  his  men,  and  leaving  be- 
hind every  thing  in  the  way  of  a  train  except  the  ammu- 
nition wagons  and  two  ambulances.  The  baggage  act- 
ually indispensable  was  carried  on  pack  mules.  Thus 
freed  from  iDCumbrances,  he  moved  on  the  same  day  on 
which  General  Meade's  order  was  given,  toward  Fred- 
ericksburg ;  but  before  reaching  that  city,  turned  off 
toward  Childsburg,  and  after  a  short  rest  moved  the  ace 
to  Beaver  Dam  station,  on  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad, 
crossing  the  North  Anna  River  at  the  fords.  At  Beaver 
Dam  they  found  a  rebel  provost-guard  with  more  than 
three  hundred  Union  prisoners,  who  had  been  captured 
the  dav  before  at  Spottsylvani«  :  these  they  promptly  re- 
leased, taking  the  rebel  guard  prisoners.  Thence  moving 
toward  Richmond,  a  detachment  was  sent  to  Ashland 
Station,  on  the  Fredericksburg  road,  where  they  destroyed 
railroad-track,  trains,  station  houses,  and  other  rebel  gov 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  209 

ernment  property,  and  then  after  a  sharp  fight  rejoined 
the  main  column. 

"  On  the  llth  of  May,  Sheridan's  command  had 
reached  a  point  within  six  miles  of  Richmond.  Here 
they  encountered  the  rebel  cavalry  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant-General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  in  person ;  and  a 
severe  battle  took  place,  in  which  General  Stuart  was 
killed,  and  some  rebel  guns  captured.  The  next  morn- 
ing, before  daybreak,  a  detachment  was  sent  toward 
Richmond  to  reconnoitre,  and  penetrated  to  the  second 
line  of  the  defences  of  that  city,  within  less  than  two 
miles  of  the  capital,  and,  having  captured  a  rebel  courier, 
withdrew.  Early  in  the  morning  of  May  12,  Sheridan's 
advance  approached  Meadow  bridge  on  the  Chickahominy, 
where  they  again  encountered  the  enemy,  who  had  de- 
stroyed the  bridge  and  constructed  defences  commanding 
the  railroad  bridge  over  which  the  Union  troops  must 
cross.  Nothing  daunted,  Sheridan's  gallant  troopers 
dashed  across ;  and  though  compelled  to  traverse  about 
half  a  mile  of  swampy  ground,  rushed  on  the  rebel 
works,  and  carried  them  after  a  most  determined  re- 
sistance. 

"  Meantime  another  rebel  force  had  come  up  in  his 
rear  and  surrounded  his  command.  Cool  and  calm  as 
the  Union  commander  habitually  was  in  the  most  trying 
circumstances,  here  was  a  position  to  task  his  finest  ener- 
gies in  generalship.  To  attempt  to  retreat  would  in- 


210  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

evitably  be  fatal ;  to  go  forward  was  to  encounter  a  rebel 
force  greatly  outnumbering  his  own,  and  to  cross  a  diffi- 
cult river  (the  Chickahominy)  under  their  concentrated 
fire.  His  decision  was  quickly  made.  It  was,  to  recon- 
struct the  Meadow  bridge  over  the  Chickahominy,  and 
cross  it  with  his  force  and  train.  This  he  accomplished, 
though  under  fire  all  the  time,  keeping  the  rebels  at  bay 
with  his  artillery  the  while,  and  repelling  their  charges 
by  fierce  counter-charges.  Once  or  twice  his  men  were 
slowly  pressed  back,  but  he  encouraged  them,  and,  fight- 
ing under  his  eye,  they  soon  regained  their  position.  At 
length  the  bridge  was  completed,  and  his  ammunition 
train  was  to  be  taken  across  it ;  and,  if  the  rebel  fire  con- 
tinued, it  could  scarcely  escape  destruction  from  explo- 
sion, a  destruction  which  would  imperil  his  force  and 
render  their  capture  or  death  inevitable.  But  not  for  a 
single  moment  did  his  self-possession  forsake  him.  When 
the  train  was  ready  for  advancing,  he  ordered  up  an  am- 
munition-wagon, supplied  his  men  who  had  fallen  back 
with  fresh  cartridges,  and,  placing  himself  at  theii  head, 
said,  'Boys,  you  see  those  fellows  yonder?  They  are 
green  recruits  just  from  Richmond.  There's  not  a  vet- 
eran among  them.  You  have  fought  them  well  to-day, 
but  we  have  got  to  whip  them.  We  can  do  it,  and  we 
will ! '  The  men  responded  with  a  rousing  cheer,  and 
with  the  order,  '  Forward  !  Charge  ! '  in  his  clear  ringing 
tones,  he  led  them  on  in  a  charge  which  sent  the  rebels 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  211 

flying  back  to  their  works  ;  and  his  artillery  opened  upon 
them,  adding  greatly  to  their  terror.  Under  cover  of  this 
charge  the  train  crossed  in  perfect  safety.  Pressing  hard 
-upon  the  now  beaten  and  demoralized  foe,  amid  a  most 
terrific  thunder  storm,  in  which  it  was  difficult  to  distin- 
guish between  the  artillery  of  heaven  and  the  thunder  of 
his  guns,  he  drove  them  back  to  Mechanicsville,  and 
finally  to  Cold  Harbor,  capturing  a  considerable  number, 
and  encamped  with  his  weary  command  near  Gaines* 
Mills.  The  next  day  he  moved  on  to  Bottom's  Bridge, 
and  the  day  following  to  General  Butler's  headquarters, 
not  being  molested  in  any  of  his  movements.  He  then 
opened  communication  with  Yorktown,  and  thence  with 
Washington.  Other  expeditions  may  have  resulted  in  a 
larger  destruction  of  property,  the  capture  of  more  pris- 
oners, or  the  traversing  a  larger  region  of  territory,  but 
none  during  the  war  has  carried  greater  terror  into  the 
hearts  of  the  enemy,  or  more  gallantly  extricated  itself 
from  a  position  of  extraordinary  difficulty. 

"  The  next  few  days  were  spent  in  cooperation  with 
the  great  army  now  on  its  way  toward  the  Chickahominy. 
General  Sheridan's  headquarters  were  at  the  White 
House,  on  the  Pamunkey ;  but  he  was  for  the  most  part 
at  the  front,  directing  the  movements  of  the  cavalry  pro- 
tecting both  wings  of  Grant's  army,  and  several  times 
engaged  in  sharp  conflicts  with  the  rebel  cavalry,  now 
nnder  the  command  of  Fitzhugh  Lee.  On  the  31st  of 


212  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

May  he  took  possession  of  Cold  Harbor,  his  troops  hav 
ing  orders  to  hold  it  until  relieved  by  the  infantry.  Thia 
was  done,  though  with  considerable  loss,  for  more  than 
twenty-four  hours,  when  the  infantry  force  came  up  ;  and 
General  Sheridan  then  moved  forward  and  guarded  the 
flank  of  Grant's  army  in  its  movements  to  and  across  the 
James." 

Then  the  unwearied  trooper  was  sent  upon  a  new 
expedition  toward  the  central  region  of  the  Old  Domin- 
ion, north  and  west  of  General  Lee's  position,  to  reach, 
if  possible,  the  main  railways  over  which  supplies  were 
forwarded  to  Richmond. 

Gordonsville  and  Charlottesville,  which  you  will  notice 
on  the  map,  are  centres  at  which  the  Virginia  Central, 
and  of  course  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  lines  -of  com- 
munication, would  be  cut.  General  Hunter,  who  was  to 
sustain  his  cavalry  force,  here  failed,  and  the  complete 
success  of  the  enterprise  was  not  attained ;  and  yet  he 
did  a  noble  work.  He  swept  across  the  Pamunkey  River 
to  Aylett's  Station,  and  thence,  the  day  succeeding,  to 
Chesterfield  Station,  on  the  Fredericksburg  Railroad, 
twisting  up  the  track  there. 

Without  resting  on  his  flying  march  of  destruction,  he 
pushed  to  Childsburg,  New  Market,  and  Mount  Pleasant, 
pausing  for  the  night  at  Young's  Bridge.  Before  the  east 
was  light  with  day-dawn,  on  the  10th  of  June,  he  led  his 
horsemen  forward,  crossing  the  branches  of  the  North 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  213 

Anna  River,  and  encamping  at  night  near  Trevilian  Sta- 
tion on  the  Central  Railroad. 

General  Sheridan's  plan  was  to  cut  out  a  large  section 
of  the  railroad  from  this  point,  and  then  repeat  the  oper- 
ation from  Gordonsville  toward  Charlottesville,  and,  ad- 
vancing upon  the  latter,  seize  the  position.  When,  how- 
ever, he  got  to  Buckchild's,  he  encountered  the  cavalry 
force  ready  to  dispute  his  right  to  the  way  across  the 
"  sacred  soil."  The  successful  tactics  of  Boonsville,  Mis- 
souri, two  years  before,  again  came  to  his  rescue.  He 
detailed  a  body  of  cavalry  to  strike  the  enemy  in  the  rear, 
while  his  main  force  dashed  upon  the  front  with  the  ac- 
customed valor  of  his  troops,  and  a  fierce  conflict  followed. 

At  length  the  first  line  of  breastworks  was  scaled, 
and  with  a  shout  the  victors  pushed  forward  to  the  sec- 
ond. Then  hand-to-hand  fighting  again  crimsoned  the 
ground,  till  the  rebels  could  no  longer  stand  the  charge, 
and  fell  back,  flying  at  last  from  the  fortifications  to  the 
dense  untravelled  forest,  and  urging  their  way  through  it 
to  Trevilian.  There,  detached  horsemen  came  upon 
their  rear,  routing  the  Confederates,  who  left  the  position 
to  Sheridan  for  his  encampment  on  that  night  of  weari- 
ness and  exultation. 

The  dawn  of  the  12th  was  reflected  from  the  imple- 
ments of  ruin  wielded  by  strong  hands  upon  the  iron 
track,  till  all  the  way  to  Louisa  Court  House  could  be  seen 
only  charred  01  burning  ties  and  twisted  bars  of  iron. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Tbe  Alarm— The  Strategy  of  Sheridan— The  Victory— The  Work  of  Destruc- 
tion—The Third  Eebel  Invasion  of  Maryland— A  new  Military  Division- 
General  Sheridan  commands  it— He  is  on  the  track  of  Early— The  Eebel 
General  at  Berry  ville— The  Battle  of  Winchester  opens. 


the  alarm,  rebel  forces  had  gathered  at 
Gordonsville  to  move  down  upon  Trevilian. 
Formidable  rifle-pits  soon  bristled  within  four 
miles  from  Sheridan,  across  his  path  of  intended 
advance.  Reconnoissance  clearly  disclosed  the 
impossibility  of  overcoming  the  resistance  with  his  light 
artillery,  while  also  poorly  supplied  with  ammunition, 
and  he  determined  to  avoid  a  general  battle.  The  right 
wing  of  the  enemy  was  assailed  with  desperate  gallantry, 
but  his  superior  strength,  arms,  and  supplies,  made  the 
onset  hopeless.  The  shrewd  and  undaunted  commander 
planned  and  executed  a  masterly  retreat  from  his  un- 
tenable position.  You  will  notice  his  coolness,  wisdom, 
and  heroism,  quite  as  finely  presented  as  in  the  hottest 
battle. 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKEDAN.  215 

"  Returning  to  Trevilian  Station  he  ordered  supper, 
inviting  his  generals  to  sup  with  him  ;  and  having  given 
orders  for  the  removal  of  the  wounded  who  could  be 
moved,  and  detailed  surgeons  to  stay  with  those  who 
were  most  severely  injured,  and  perfected  his  order  of 
march,  he  partook  quietly  of  his  tea,  and  then  set  about 
the  withdrawal  of  his  force  from  a  position  in  which 
nearly  the  entire  cavalry  of  the  rebel  army  confronted  it. 
While  the  train  and  the  rear  divisions  were  moving  off 
with  the  wounded,  he  ordered  forty  rounds  of  canister  to 
be  fired  at  the  rebel  position  ;  and  when  the  enemy,  sorely 
cut  up  by  this  fire,  attempted  to  take  the  battery  by  a 
bold,  sudden  dash,  he  charged  upon  them  with  a  regiment 
of  cavalry,  at  the  same  time  pouring  in  a  full  round  of 
canister  at  very  short  range,  and  hurled  them  back,  while 
the  gun  was  withdrawn,  and  then,  when  they  were  re- 
treating, moved  quietly  back  ;  and  all  his  men  being,  by 
day-dawn,  well  out  of  Trevilian  Station,  he  marched  the 
next  day  fifteen  miles  to  Troyman's  store,  without  the 
slightest  opposition,  and  the  day  following,  June  14th, 
reached  the  vicinity  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  which 
a  month  before  had  been  the  scene  of  such  bloodv  and 
terrible  battles.  Here  he  remained  a  day,  and  on  Wed- 
nesday evening  reached  Guiney's  Station,  on  the  Freder- 
icksburg  and  Richmond  Railroad,  where  he  established 
his  headquarters  for  the  time,  but  soon  moved  to  White 
House,  and  thence  marched  to  the  James,  to  joia  General 


216  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

Grant.  While  moving  toward  the  James,  they  were  at- 
tacked  by  the  enemy  on  the  23d  of  June  at  Jones's 
bridge  over  the  Chickahominy,  and  on  the  24th  near  St. 
Mary's  Church,  the  rebels  being  on  both  occasions  in 
strong  force,  and  fully  confident  of  their  ability  to  over- 
whelm him.  Sheridan  acted  entirely  on  the  defensive, 
but  produced  such  terrible  havoc  among  the  enemy  with 
his  artillery,  fighting  at  short  range,  that  they  were  in  the 
end  very  willing  to  withdraw.  During  the  afternoon  and 
night  of  June  25th,  General  Sheridan  crossed  the  James 
River,  five  miles  above  Fort  Powhattan,  on  a  pontoon 
bridge,  protected  on  either  side  by  gunboats,  without 
loss,  the  enemy  being  kept  at  bay  by  them." 

During  the  last  days  of  June  and  nearly  the  whole 
of  July  General  Sheridan's  cavalry  were  galloping  across 
ihe  country  around  Petersburg,  making  smoking  ruins  of 
many  miles  of  railroad  in  a  southerly  direction  from  that 
city,  itself  the  key  to  Richmond.  He  reached  the  James 
River  at  Deep  Bottom  on  July  27th,  and  the  next  day 
came  upon  the  rebels  at  Malvern  Hill.  They  had  the 
smaller  force,  but  fought  like  tigers  to  hold  their  position. 
For  hours  the  rattle  of  small  arms,  the  roar  of  artillery, 
and  the  shouts  of  fierce  men,  rose  around  and  over  the 
height.  At  length  the  enemy  gave  way.  And  now  we 
have  a  new  and  exciting  crisis  in  the  civil  war,  with 
which  Sheridan  had  an  intimate  and  prominent  connec- 
tion. The  Confederates  attempted  for  the  third  time  the 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  217 

invasion  of  Maryland,  making  the  Shenandoah  valley 
the  grand  highway  of  the  advance.  The  insurgent  tide 
dashed  proudly  along,  surprising  Chambersburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  leaving  it  desolate,  then  occupying  Hagers- 
town  and  Frederick,  Maryland,  till  General  Ewell  ap- 
proached the  city  of  Baltimore,  sending  alarm  to  every 
home  and  heart.  The  design  of  the  bold  and  terror- 
awakening  movement  was  to  call  troops  from  General 
Grant's  army,  and,  if  possible,  relax  his  hold  upon  Lee 
and  Richmond.  But  "  Mr.  Grant  is  a  very  obstinate 
man,"  as  Mrs.  Grant  said,  and  nothing  could  decoy  or 
frighten  him  from  his  watching  the  prey  worthy  of  his 
eagle  eye.  He  sent  a  single  corps,  the  Sixth,  which  ho 
could  spare,  to  aid  in  protecting  the  nation's  capital. 
With  this  contribution  to  her  defence,  General  Grant  deter- 
mined to  leave  the  trembling  North  to  such  help  as  the 
Department  of  the  Gulf,  and  the  loyal  troops,  including 
militia  scattered  through  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, could  furnish.  They  were  sufficient,  if  marshalled 
under  able  commanders,  instead  of  remaining  in  four  dis- 
tinct military  departments,  whose  leaders  were  unharmo- 
nious  in  feeling  and  counsel.  The  comprehensive  genius 
of  Grant  at  once  saw  the  remedy.  Of  the  Department  of 
Washington,  including  the  Capitol  and  Baltimore,  with 
the  region  around ;  the  Department  of  the  Susquehanna, 
comprising  Eastern  and  Central  Pennsylvania  and  North- 
ern Maryland  ;  the  Department  of  West  Virginia,  formed 


218  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

of  Northwest  Virginia  and  Western  Pennsylvania ;  and 
of  the  Middle  Department,  composed  of  the  Shenandoah 
country  and  the  region  eastward  to  the  Bull  Run  Moun- 
tains ;  the  lieutenant-general  proposed  to  make  a  military 
division  to  be  called  the  Middle  Military  Division,  and 
was  subsequently  known  as  the  Military  Division  of  the 
Shenandoah.  To  this  unrivalled  command,  in  extent  and 
importance,  General  Grant  assigned  General  P.  H.  Sheri- 
dan— a  choice  whose  wisdom  the  future  of  his  career 
brilliantly  illustrated.  The  youngest  major-general,  he 
had  no  superior;  he  knew  preeminently  how  to  inspire 
with  martial  ardor,  and  effectively  handle  large  bodies  of 
troops. 

His  command  of  this  magnificent  field  was  dated 
July  7,  1864.  On  that  day  he  removed  his  headquarters 
to  Harper's  Ferry.  Meanwhile  General  Early  had  moved 
up  the  Shenandoah  valley  laden  with  plunder,  and  re- 
joicing in  the  prospect  of  a  holiday  march  through  the 
Garden  of  Virginia  toward  freedom's  soil.  Sheridan  at 
once  prepared  to  contest  the  right  to  such  pastime  at  the 
expense  of  the  dear  cause  of  the  Republic.  His  columns 
soon  crowded  upon  the  front  of  invasion,  pushing  Early 
back  from  Martinsburg  and  Williamsport,  and  making 
of  these  border  towns  defensive  positions.  His  next  work 
was  to  feel  the  enemy  and  ascertain  his  strength,  by  put- 
ting on  the  appearance  of  a  general  advance.  The  vain 
glorious  Early  supposed  this  to  be  Genera]  Sheridan's 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  219 

object,    and    fell    back    slowly   to    lure    him    into    his 
power. 

Cautiously  and  boldly  "Little  Phil"  stole  the  march 
on  his  greater  adversary  in  physique  and  arrogance,  made 
sure  of  his  ground,  and  refused  to  move  a  step  upon 
clearly  dangerous  territory.  August  12th  he  was  at 
Winchester,  and  moved  forward  to  Front  Royal.  Here 
a  fight  of  considerable  severity  transpired,  in  which  the 
Union  "boys"  were  victorious.  It  was  now  Sheridan's 
turn  to  try  the  retreating  policy.  He  abandoned  Win- 
chester, and  concentrated  his  forces  at  Harper's  Ferry. 
The  movement  brought  Early  northward  again,  while 
General  Torbert  played  around  his  lines  watching  every 
motion,  while  occasionally  sharp  skirmishing  occurred 
between  the  troops.  Determined  to  prevent  a  southern 
inarch  of  Early's  battalions  to  join  Lee,  General  Sheridan 
at  once  made  the  onward  movement,  apparently  to  offer 
battle,  and  then  retired  to  Charlestown  to  draw  them 
further  toward  the  Potomac.  General  Early  was  de- 
ceived, and  supposing  his  antagonist  was  timid,  determin- 
ed to  try  flanking  him,  and  by  this  means  get  again  into 
Maryland.  Pushing  forward  to  Berryville,  he  issued  a 
sounding  order  respecting  the  grand  advance.  General 
Early  congratulated  himself  upon  his  successful  move- 
ment to  Berry ville.  This  is  a  post  village  sixty-two 
miles  from  Washington,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
from  Richmond. 


220  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

General  Sheridan  was  more  than  ready  to  meet  his 
confident  enemy — impatient  to  try  his  steel  upon  him. 
The  undiverted,  unyielding  Grant,  was  beating  away 
upon  Lee's  lines,  keeping  him  too  much  alarmed  to  spare 
troops  for  Early  to  swell  his  command  to  an  overwhelm- 
ing force.  About  this  time  General  Sheridan  sent  the 
subjoined  despatch : 

"NEAR  BERRY VILLE,  7  P.  M.,  September  13,  1864. 
"  Lieutenant-  General  Grant,  City  Point ; 

"  This  morning  I  sent  General  Getty's  division  of  the 
Sixth  corps,  with  two  brigades  of  cavalry,  to  the  crossing 
of  the  Summit  Point  and  Winchester  Road  over  the  Ope- 
quan  Creek,  to  develop  the  force  of  the  enemy  at  the 
crossing  in  that  vicinity.  Rhodes,  Ramseur's,  Gordon's, 
and  Wharton's  divisions  were  found  on  the  west  bank. 
At  the  same  time  Generals  Wilson  and  Macintosh's  bri- 
gade of  cavalry  dashed  up  the  Winchester  pike,  drove  the 
rebel  cavalry  at  a  run,  came  in  contact  with  Kershaw's 
division,  charged  it,  and  captured  the  Eighth  South  Caro- 
lina regiment,  sixteen  officers,  and  one  hundred  and  forty- 
five  men,  and  its  battle-flag,  and  Colonel  Hennegan,  com- 
manding brigade,  with  a  loss  of  only  two  men  killed  and 
two  wounded.  Great  credit  is  due  to  Generals  Wilson 
and  Mclntosh,  the  Third  New  Jersey  and  Second  Ohio. 
The  charge  was  a  gallant  one.  A  portion  of  the  Second 
Massachusetts  reserve  brigade  made  a  charge  on  the 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  221 

right  of  the  line,  and  captured  one  officer  and  eleven  men 
of  Gordon's  division  of  infantry.  Our  loss  in  the  recon- 
noissance  is  very  light. 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General." 

The  cavalry  were  on  the  lookout  for  work,  and  on  the 
17th  met  the  rebels  at  Darksville,  about  twenty  miles 
from  Berryville,  also  on  a  branch  of  the  Opequan  Creek, 
which  empties  into  the  Potomac. 

The  infantry  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  force  at 
Perryville,  driving  him  toward  Winchester,  where  the 
routed  cavalry  had  joined  him.  General  Sheridan's  posi- 
tion was  exceedingly  favorable.  The  Confederates  were 
on  the  west  side  of  Opequan  Creek,  while  he  was  be- 
tween them  and  their  true  line  of  retreat,  which  was 
southeasterly  through  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge  tow- 
ard Richmond.  In  addition  to  this  advantage,  one  of 
their  divisions  had  been  sent  to  another  field,  weakening 
the  strength  of  Early,  who  was  quite  sure  of  handling  at 
his  leisure  the  forces  of  Sheridan.  The  latter  was  willing 
he  should  think  so,  but  determined  soon  to  undeceive 
him,  by  making  the  attempt  to  push  him  to  the  southwest ; 
a  damaging,  crippling  blow,  if  successful,  which  would 
keep  him  at  bay  for  a  season,  if  it  accomplished  no  more. 

On  the  morning  of  September  19,  1864,  at  2  o'clock, 
you  might  have  seen  the  battalions  of  Sheridan  "  break- 
ing camp"  near  Berryville.  All  were  astir  with  the 


222  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

calm  and  serious  enthusiasm  which  animates  an  army 
moving  to  battle.  As  the  night  waned  before  the  day,  it 
was  a  splendid  sight  to  look  upon — that  host  winding 
through  a  deep  and  narrow  gorge,  and  deploying  right  in 
the  face  of  a  veteran  army  behind  strong  intrenchments. 
There  were  numberless  heavy  wheels  carrying  forward  the 
grim  cannon,  the  ammunition,  and  the  ambulance.  A  long 
line  of  infantry  bordered  the  rough  way  on  either  side  of 
this  procession,  the  columns  stumbling  over  the  rocks  and 
gullies,  and  through  the  tangled  underbrush.  All  over 
the  slopes  were  scattered  the  throng  that  do  not  fight,  but 
belong  to  every  army.  On  rock,  under  green  bush,  and 
sheltering  bank,  sat  the  hospital  attendants,  the  people  of 
the  quartermasters  and  commissaries,  the  sick  and  the 
skulkers,  gazing  at  the  magnificent  cavalcade.  The 
pioneer  cavalry  who  had  cleared  the  track  over  Opequan 
Creek  and  returned,  were  crowded  into  the  same  narrow 
passage  of  death.  Occasionally  the  litters  were  borne 
past  with  bleeding  men,  and  the  burden  removed  to  the 
hospital  tent,  where  the  surgeon's  knife  did  its  bloody 
work,  staining  the  rude  soil  with  patriotic  gore.  The 
fight  in  front  had  opened,  and  soon  the  moving  ranks  be- 
hind would  enter  its  fire  and  smoke,  from  which  came 
"  an  occasional  boom  of  the  cannon,  deadening  to  a  dull 
pum,  pum,  by  the  woods  and  distance." 

An  officer  who  was  there  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray, 
writes  of  the  eventful  day  and  the  plan  of  battle : 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  223 

"  A  narrow  ravine,  winding  among  hills  so  steep  and 
thickly  wooded  as  to  be  impassable  for  any  troops  but 
light  infantry,  debouches  into  an  irregular,  undulating 
valley,  faced  on  the  south  by  an  amphitheatre  of  stony 
heights,  laid,  with  regard  to  each  other,  like  detached  for- 
tifications. The  object  of  Sheridan  was  to  pass  through 
this  ravine,  deploy  in  the  valley,  amuse  the  enemy's  right, 
fight  his  centre  vigorously,  turn  and  force  his  left.  The 
object  of  Early  was  to  allow  us  to  deploy  up  to  a  certain 
extent ;  then  to  beat  in  our  attacking  columns  and  throw 
them  back  in  confusion  on  our  line  of  advance  ;  lastly,  to 
ruin  us  by  pushing  his  strong  left  through  our  right,  and 
reaching  the  mouth  of  the  gorge  so  as  to  cut  off  our  re- 
treat. To  effect  this  final  purpose  his  army  was  not 
drawn  up  at  right  angles  to  the  pike,  but  diagonally  to 
it,  so  as  to  bring  his  left  nearer  to  our  vital  debouching 
point.  And  this  fatal  stroke  he  attempted  early  in  the 
day,  with  a  strong  column,  pushed  with  remarkable 
vigor,  and  for  a  time  with  terrible  promise  of  success. 

"  At  about  ten  o'clock  the  head  of  the  Sixth  Corps 
emerged  from  the  ravine,  took  ground  rapidly  to  the  left, 
and  advanced  in  two  lines,  the  first  of  which  presently 
carried  a  rifle-pit  and  wood  that  formed  the  outwork  of 
the  enemy's  right.  This  right  wing  being  refused,  or 
held  aloof,  our  extreme  left  had  throughout  the  day,  so 
far  as  I  could  learn,  no  very  serious  fighting.  The  open- 
ing struggle  of  supreme  importance  came  in  the  centre, 


224  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

where  it  was  necessary,  firstly,  to  gain  ground  enough  tc 
bring  up  our  second  line  ;  and,  secondly,  to  hold  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  ravine  at  no  matter  what  cost  of  slaugh- 
ter. I  beg  the  reader  to  remark  that  if  this  was  not  done 
our  striking  right  could  not  be  deployed,  and  our  retreat 
could  not  be  secured ;  that  if  this  was  not  done  there 
could  be  no  victory,  and  there  must  be — if  the  enemy 
pushed  us  with  energy — calamitous  defeat.  Upon  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  and  upon  Rickett's  division  of  the 
Sixth  Corps  devolved  this  bloody  task.  They  were  to 
sustain  the  principal  burden  of  the  battle  during  the  long 
hours  which  would  be  necessary  to  let  the  Eighth  Corps 
sweep  around  on  its  more  enviable  and  brilliant  mission 
of  turning  the  hostile  position.  How  the  Nineteenth 
Corps  performed  its  portion  of  the  task  is  shown  by  its 
list  of  killed  and  wounded.  Swept  by  musketry  and  ar- 
tillery from  the  front,  enfiladed  by  artillery  from  the 
right,  pressed  violently  by  the  one  grand  column  of  at- 
tack which  Early  massed  to  decide  the  battle,  it  bled,  but 
it  stood,  and,  after  hours  of  suffering,  advanced. 

"  Closely  following  the  Sixth  Corps — lapping  its  rear, 
indeed — Grover's  division  emerged  from  the  defile  at  a 
little  before  eleven  o'clock,  and  forming  in  two  lines, 
each  consisting  of  two  brigades,  moved  promptly  for- 
ward in  superb  order.  Steep  hills  and  a  thick  wood, 
impracticable  for  artillery  until  engineered,  rendered  it 
necessary  for  the  infantry  to  open  the  contest  without  the 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  225 

support  of  cannon.  In  face  of  a  vigorous  shelling  the 
column  swept  over  the  hills,  struggled  through  the  wood, 
and  emerged  upon  a  broad  stretch  of  rolling  fields,  on 
the  other  side  of  which  lay  the  rebel  force,  supported  by 
another  wood  and  by  a  ledge  of  rocks,  which  answered  the 
purpose  of  a  fortification,  with  the  semicircular  heights  of 
Winchester  in  the  rear,  as  a  final  rallying  base.  As  the 
lines  of  advance  from  the  gorge  were  divergent,  opening 
outward  like  the  blades  of  a  fan,  General  Emory  found  it 
necessary,  in  order  to  keep  up  a  connection  with  the  Sixth 
Corps,  to  hurry  Molineaux's  brigade  from  the  rear  to  the 
front.  This  was  done  at  a  double-quick,  in  face  of  the 
hostile  musketry,  without  checking  the  general  advance. 
And  now  the  division  quickened  its  pace  into  a  charge  of 
unusual  and  unintended  impetuosity,  the  officers  being 
dragged  on  by  the  eagerness  of  the  men,  the  skirmishers 
firing  as  they  ran,  and  the  brigades  following  at  a  right- 
shoulder-shift,  with  deafening  yells.  Birge's  men  car- 
ried the  detached  wood  with  a  rush  :  they  were  ordered 
to  halt  there  and  lie  down,  but  it  was  impossible  to  stop 
them ;  they  hurried  on,  pell-mell,  and  drove  the  enemy 
three  hundred  yards  beyond.  The  rebel  General  Rhodes 
was  killed  while  placing  a  battery  in  position.  Three 
colonels,  taken  by  Sharpe's  brigade,  were  sent  back  to 
Emory  as  prisoners.  Early's  first  line  in  the  centre  was 
everywhere  thrown  back  in  confusion." 

There  is  special  danger  of  a  sudden  return  of  the  re 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

ceding  tide,  when  there  lies  back  of  *t  a  reserved  force  to 
meet  and  sweep  it  forward  again.  Suddenly  Early,  by 
prompt  and  decisive  action,  doubtless  suggested  by  Gen- 
eral Grover's  advance,  brought  from  a  sheltered  position 
not  less  than  two  divisions  which  had  not  appeared 
during  the  day,  pouring  into  the  Union  ranks,  disordered 
already  by  the  celerity  of  the  onset,  a  wasting  fire.  At 
the  same  moment,  from  an  eminence  near  Winchester,  a 
battery  sent  whistling  over  the  heads  of  the  rebels  be- 
tween it  and  our  troops,  and  down  upon  Grover's  and 
Rickett's  men,  shell,  grape,  and  canister. 

For  a  time  the  terrible  onslaught  threatened  to  over- 
whelm the  unterrified  Sheridan — it  was  so  unexpected 
and  destructive.  General  Rickett's  columns  surged  back 
toward  the  gorge,  along  the  Berryville  and  Winchester 
pike.  That  wild  pass  could  not  be  spared  by  our  army, 
cost  what  it  might.  Oh,  what  fighting  was  there  !  At 
first,  almost  hand  to  hand  the  combatants  struggled, 
until  around  the  colors  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Neafie's 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  New  York  regiment,  only 
forty  men  were  left.  The  rest  had  gone  down  to  the 
crimson  earth  before  the  deadly  hail,  or  fled  from  its 
fury.  Then  came  a  frightful  flank  fire  upon  the  whole 
brigade,  in  addition  to  the  ceaseless  tempest  on  the  front. 
In  a  few  minutes  a  hundred  and  fifteen  fallen  heroes 
covered  a  small  area,  and  to  attempt  the  holding  of  such 
a  position,  with  all  the  regimental  commanders  but  ouc 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN.  227 

killed  or  wounded,  was  to  let  the  troops  be  murdered  or 
captured  with  a  wholesale  havoc. 

The  retreat  was  sounded,  and  swept  down  the  line 
of  brigades,  each  in  turn  obeying  the  inevitable  knell  of 
their  anticipated  victory. 

There  is  a  fact  illustrated  in  thi^  defeat  not  often  al- 
luded to  in  the  annals  of  war.  Adds  the  hero  in  .he 
fight: 

"  The  reader  can  conceive  the  hopeless,  unresisting 
slaughter  which  attends  the  withdrawal  of  troops  from 
the  immediate  presence  of  a  powerful  enemy.  There  is 
no  inspiriting  return  of  blow  for  blow  ;  there  is  no  possi- 
bility of  quelling  the  hostile  fire  by  an  answering  fire ; 
the  soldier  marches  gloomily  in  his  file,  imagining  that 
his  foe  is  ever  gaining  on  him ;  the  ranks  are  rapidly 
thinned,  and  the  organization  of  the  companies  shat- 
tered ;  and  thus,  from  both  physical  and  moral  causes, 
the  bravest  battalions  go  to  pieces.  Rarely  does  it  hap- 
pen, if  ever,  that  a  force  is  extricated  from  this  fearful 
trial  without  breaking.  Grover's  and  Rickett's  com- 
mands reached  the  base  from  which  they  had  advanced 
in  a  state  of  confusion  which  threatened  wide-spread  dis- 
aster. Sixth  Corps  men  and  Nineteenth  Corps  men  were 
crowding  together  up  the  line  of  the  Berryville  pike,  while 
to  the  right  and  left  of  it  the  fields  were  dotted  with  fugi- 
tives, great  numbers  of  them  wounded,  bursting  out  of 
the  retiring  ranks  and  rushing  toward  the  cover  of  the 


228  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

forest.  Some  regiments  disappeared  for  a  time  as  or- 
ganizations. Early's  veterans  advanced  steadily,  with 
yells  of  triumph  and  a  constant  roll  of  murderous  mus 
ketry,  threatening  to  sweep  away  our  centre  and  render 
our  struggle  a  defeat  almost  before  it  had  become  a  bat- 
tle. It  was  the  bloodiest,  the  darkest,  the  most  pictur- 
esque, the  most  dramatic,  the  only  desperate  moment  of 
the  day.  General  Emory  and  General  Grover,  with 
every  brigade  commander  and  every  staff  officer  present, 
rode  hither  and  thither  through  the  fire,  endeavoring  by 
threats,  commands,  and  entreaties  to  halt  and  re-form  the 
panic-stricken  stragglers. 

"  '  Halt  here,  men/  Emory  cried  to  group  after 
group.  4  Here  is  good  cover.  Halt  and  form  a  line  here.' 

"  c  I  am  looking  for  my  own  regiment,'  was  the  usual 
reply. 

"  c  Never  mind  your  own  regiments.  Never  mind 
if  you  belong  to  fifty  regiments.  Make  a  regiment 
here.' 

"  Pointing  out  other  groups  to  this  and  that  officer  of 
his  staff,  he  would  say,  '  My  God !  look  at  these  men ; 
ride  over  to  them,  and  bring  them  up  here/ 

"  Captain  Yorke  of  the  staff  seized  a  regimental  flag 
and  bore  it  forward,  shouting,  4  Men,  don't  desert  your 
colors,'  when  a  spent  ball  struck  him  in  the  throat,  par- 
alyzing him  for  a  time  and  causing  him  to  drop  his  bur- 
den. Of  the  other  staff  officers  Captain  Wilkinson  had 


LIFE   OF   GENEBAL    SHEEIDAN.  229 

his  horse  killed  under  him.  Captain  Coley  had  ?  bullet 
pass  through  his  coat  collar,  and  Major  Walker  received 
a  spent  shot  in  the  shoulder. 

"  One  instance  of  coolness  and  discipline,  which  con- 
trasted curiously  with  the  general  panic,  was  noticed  by 
Captain  Bradbury,  of  the  First  Maine  battery,  now  Major 
and  Chief  of  Artillery  on  General  Emory's  staff.  Through 
the  midst  of  the  confusion  came  a  captain  of  infantry,  Rig- 
by  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Iowa,  leading  a  sergeant  and 
twelve  men,  all  marching  as  composedly  as  if  returning 
from  drill. 

"  '  Captain,  you  are  not  going  to  retreat  any  further, 
I  hope/  said  Bradbury. 

"  '  Certainly  not/  was  the  reply.  '  Halt ;  front ! 
Three  cheers  men  ;  hip,  hip,  hurrah  !  " 

"  The  little  band  cheered  lustily.  It  was  the  first  note 
of  defiance  that  broke  the  desperate  monotony  of  the 
panic  ;  it  gave  heart  to  every  one  who  heard  it,  and  made 
an  end  of  retreat  in  that  part  of  the  field.  In  a  few  min- 
utes the  platoon  swelled  to  a  battalion  composed  of  men 
from  half  a  dozen  regiments. 

"  '  Bradbury/  said  General  Grover,  '  you  must  push 
a  section  into  that  gap.  We  must  show  a  front  there.' 

"  Under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  two 
pieces  galloped  into  the  opening,  under  the  charge  of 
Bradbury  himself,  and,  unsupported  by  infantry,  com- 
menced a  cannonade  which  assisted  greatly  in  checking 


230  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

the  rebel  advance  and  encouraging  our  men  to  rally.  A 
Confederate  line  which  attempted  to  carry  these  pieces 
was  repulsed  in  a  somewhat  singular  manner.  General 
Emory  had  personally  aided  in  rallying  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-first  New  York,  and  had  posted  it  in  a  narrow 
grove  projecting  from  the  wood  which  now  formed  Gro- 
ver's  base  of  resistance.  The  charging  rebels  were  al- 
lowed to  pass  this  point,  and  then  a  volley  was  poured 
into  their  backs.  As  they  staggered  under  the  unexpected 
shock  a  fire  was  opened  upon  their  front  by  another  ral- 
lied line,  and  breaking  ranks,  they  fled  pellmell  across 
the  fields  to  cover. 

"  Thus  piece  by  piece  our  shattered  first  line  was 
picked  up  and  reunited.  The  rebel  attack  was  checked, 
and  a  large  portion  of  the  lost  ground  recovered.  On  the 
left  Neafie,  now  commanding  the  Third  Brigade,  made  a 
second  charge  nearly  up  to  his  original  position,  while  on 
the  right  Molineux  pushed  a  line  to  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  isolated  wood  which  Birge  had  carried  and 
lost.  And  now  came  into  action  the  famous  First  Division 
of  the  Nineteenth  Corps — a  division  that  had  never  been 
put  to  shame  on  any  field  of  battle,  the  division  that  under 
Weitzel  had  triumphed  at  Camp  Bisland  and  Port  Hud- 
son, that  under  Emory  had  prevented  defeat  at  Sabine 
Cross-Roads  and  Pleasant  Hill.  From  this  moment  my 
story  of  the  battle  will  become  to  some  extent  a  record  of 
personal  observation. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  231 

"  We  of  the  First  Division  were  already  out  of  the 
defile,  and  drawn  up  in  tw6  columns  behind  Grover,  when 
the  failure  of  his  attack  became  evident.  The  difficulty 
was,  not  that  we  were  not  in  hand,  but  that,  as  we  had 
only  two  brigades  present  (the  third  having  been  left  at 
Halltown),  we  were  hardly  strong  enough  to  face  the 
enemy's  left,  which  far  outsreached  our  right,  and  at  the 
same  time  make  head  against  the  vehement  attack  which 
threatened  our  centre.  It  had  been  intended  that  we 
should  remain  in  reserve  until  the  time  came  for  us  to 
join  the  Eighth  Corps,  in  the  grand  turning  movement  of 
the  day.  Now  we  must  fill  up  gaps,  run  from  one  im- 
perilled point  to  another,  and,  in  short,  be  used  as  the 
urgency  of  circumstances  required. 

"  Lying  in  a  hollow,  across  which  the  rebel  shell 
screamed  harmlessly,  I  saw  our  First  Brigade  disappear 
over  the  crest  of  the  hill  in  our  front.  Then  we  of  the 
Second  Brigade  moved  in  column  to  the  right,  and  halted 
on  a  lofty  slope,  where  we  could  discover  some  parts  of 
the  field  of  battle,  and  where  the  earth  was  occasionally 
furrowed  by  the  shot  of  hostile  artillery.  Far  away  to 
the  left  I  saw  a  part  of  the  Sixth  Corps  mount  an  acclivity 
and  charge  into  a  wood  on  its  summit  from  which  the 
smoke  of  musketry  issued.  I  distinguished  their  distant 
cheer,  and  rejoiced  in  their  gallantry  and  triumph.  We 
knew  nothing  all  this  while  of  the  disaster  which  had  oc- 
curred in  our  front,  and  did  not  doubt  that  we  should 


232  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

have  our  customary  success.  Presently  we  advanced  intd 
the  wood,  on  the  extreme  verge  of  which  Grover's  men 
were  rallying  and  resuming  the  conflict.  We  did  not 
see  them,  but  we  plainly  heard  the  incessant  rattle  of 
their  musketry,  and,  not  knowing  the  rolling  nature  of  the 
ground,  wondered  that  the  bullets  did  not  hum  more  fre* 
quently  through  our  ranks.  Soon  we  turned  to  the  right 
again,  and  emerged  into  an  opening  from  which  we  ob- 
tained our  first  clear  view  of  the  fighting.  Nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  advance  of  us  we  saw  our  First  Bri- 
gade in  line  behind  a  rail-fence,  the  men  kneeling  or  lying 
down  and  keeping  up  a  violent  file-firing.  Two  hundred 
yards  beyond  them  was  the  wood  which  Early  had  re- 
taken from  Birge,  a  smoke  of  rebel  musketry  now  rising 
from  it,  although  not  a  rebel  was  visible.  As  we  looked, 
our  men  rose  up,  formed,  faced  about,  and  came  slowly 
toward  us,  the  officers  running  hither  and  thither  to  check 
a  momentary  confusion  in  the  ranks.  The  report  flew 
along  our  line  that  they  were  ordered  back  to  the  fence 
where  we  stood,  and  that  we  were  to  relieve  them ;  but 
while  we  watched  the  unaccomplished  movement,  two  of 
ou*  four  regiments,  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  and  Eighth 
Vermont,  were  faced  to  the  left,  and  hurried  back  through 
the  wood  which  we  had  just  traversed.  The  last  thing 
that  I  saw  as  I  reentered  the  covert  was  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixteenth  New  York  facing  about  with  a  cheer 
and  chanrin^  back  to  the  fence.  I  afterwards  learned 


V 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  233 

that  the  whole  brigade  followed  it ;  that  the  line  was  a 
second  time  ordered  back,  and  then  again  resumed  its 
position.  Here  it  was  that  the  One  Hundred  and  Four- 
teenth New  York  offered  up  its  glorious  sacrifice  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  men  and  officers,  being  three-fifths  ;>f 
the  number  which  it  took  into  battle.  After  the  engage- 
ment the  position  of  the  brigade  was  distinguishable  by 
a  long,  straight  line  of  dead  and  dying,  here  and  there 
piled  one  upon  another,  the  prostrate  and  bloody  ranks 
telling  with  matchless  eloquence  how  the  American  sol- 
dier can  fight. 

"  While  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York  and 
Forty-seventh  Pennsylvania  remained  to  support  the  First 
Brigade  and  share  its  fatal  honors,  my  regiment  and  the 
Eighth  Vermont  moved  back  to  the  centre.  We  were 
apparently  wanted  in  many  places  at  once.  Pressing  and 
contradictory  orders  repeatedly  changed  our  direction  and 
position.  It  was  i  Forward  ! '  and  *  About  face  ! '  '  By 
the  right  flank ! '  and  '  By  the  left  flank  ! '  '  Double 
quick  ! '  and  i  Halt !  '  until  our  heads  were  half-turned  by 
the  confusion.  At  last  we  came  to  the  outskirt  of  the 
wood,  and  looked  out  upon  Grover's  field  of  battle.  No 
ranks  of  enemies  were  visible  athwart  those  undulating 
fields,  but  there  were  long  light  lines  of  smoke  trom  mus- 
ketry and  great  piles  of  smoke  from  batteries,  while  the 
rush  and  crash  of  shell  tore  through  the  forest.  Brad- 
bury was  putting  two  of  his  pieces  in  position,  and  we  lay 


234  LIFE    OF   GENEEAL    SHEEIDAN. 

down  in  their  rear  to  support  them.  General  Emory  and 
General  Dwight,  mounted  and  surrounded  by  staff  of- 
ficers, were  a  little  to  the  front  surveying  the  position. 
4  My  God ! '  remarked  the  former,  as  he  saw  men  and 
horses  falling  around  him,  '  this  is  a  perfect  slaughter- 
house. It  must  be  held ;  it  is  the  key  of  the  position, 
but  tell  Captain  Bradbury  to  keep  his  people  covered  as 
much  as  possible/ 

"  Here  fell  one  of  the  best  and  bravest  gentlemen  in 
the  service,  the  only  field-officer  present  with  our  regi- 
ment, Lieutenant-Colonel  Peck.  He  had  just  given  the 
command,  '  Officers  rectify  the  alignment/  as  we  were 
about  to  move  forward,  when  a  shell  burst  among  us,  one 
piece  of  it  shattering  his  knee  and  mortally  mangling  the 
arteries.  A  moment  afterwards  the  Eighth  and  Twelfth 
were  ordered  to  move  iuto  the  open,  wheel  to  the  right, 
and  relieve  a  portion  of  Molineux's  brigade,  which  lay 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  isolated  wood.  At  a 
double  quick  we  went  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  over 
gently-rolling  fields,  pulling  up  occasionally  from  pure 
lack  of  breath,  and  then  hurrying  on  again,  until  we 
flung  ourselves  on  the  ground  among  the  Fourteenth 
New  Hampshire  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-first 
New  York. 

"  As  the  enemy  were  firing  low,  we  suffered  very  little 
in  our  advance  ;  but  we  had  not  been  in  position  five  min- 
utes before  we  felt  how  coolly  and  surely  Lee's  veterans 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  235 

could  aim ;  for,  stretched  at  full  length  as  we  all  were, 
and  completely  concealed  by  tall  grass,  the  bullets 
searched  out  our  covert  with  fatal  certainty.  A  groan 
here,  a  shriek  of  agony  there,  a  dying  convulsion,  a 
plunge  of  some  wounded  wretch  to  the  rear,  showed  from 
instant  to  instant  how  rapidly  our  men  were  being  dis- 
abled. We  lay  on  a  gentle,  very  gentle  slope,  and  aimed 
upward,  so  that  our  fire  was  probably  even  more  fatal 
than  that  of  our  adversaries,  an  ascending  range  being 
more  sure  of  its  mark  than  a  descending  one.  After  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  here,  our  commander,  Captain  Clarke, 
ordered  a  volley.  With  the  usual  cautionary  commands 
from  the  officers  of  '  Steady,  men ! '  '  Wait  for  the 
Word ! '  4  Aim  low ! '  the  regiment  rose  up,  closed  its 
ranks,  and  poured  in  a  splendid  crash  of  musketry,  drop- 
ping immediately  that  it  was  delivered.  For  a  few  min- 
utes our  antagonists  were  silenced.  Perhaps  we  had 
slaughtered  them  ;  perhaps  the  venomous  flight  of  hissing 
Minies  had  frightened  them  into  taking  cover ;  perhaps 
they  simply  saved  their  powder  because  they  supposed 
that  we  were  about  to  charge.  But  presently  the  steady 
file-firing  was  resumed.  On  each  side  the  men  fired  low, 
fired  slowly,  fired  calmly,  knowing  full  well  the  hostile 
position,  although  able  to  discover  no  hostile  sign  except 
the  light  opposing  line  of  musketry  smoke.  For  two  or 
more  hours  the  bullets  whizzed  through  the  grass  which 
scarcely  concealed  us,  striking  into  our  prostrate  ranks  so 


236  LIFE  OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

frequently  that  every  one  occasionally  searched  the  branches 
of  the  trees  in  our  front  to  discover  the  forms  of  hostile 
sharpshooters.  It  seemed  impossible  that  they  could  strike 
so  many  of  us,  and  yet  not  see  us.  Of  the  seventy  men  and 
officers  whom  our  regiment  lost  during  the  day,  at  least 
sixty  must  have  been  hit  on  this  line.  But  the  enemy 
fired  much  more  rapidly  and  continuously  than  we  did. 
The  word  was  repeatedly  passed  along  our  ranks  to  spare 
the  cartridges,  for  we  were  a  long  way  from  our  supports, 
or  from  any  chance  of  replenishing  ammunition,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  save  shots  enough  to  repulse  the  rebels 
in  case  they  should  charge  us  with  the  bayonet.  '  Fire 
down  to  ten  cartridges  a-piece,  and  then  stop,'  was  the 
order  of  our  commander. 

"  A  curious  change  came  over  our  men  during  this 
long  trial.  At  first  they  were  grave  and  anxious,  but  this 
passed  away  as  they  became  accustomed  to  the  position  ; 
at  the  last  they  laughed,  jested,  and  recklessly  exposed 
themselves.  Corporal  Gray,  of  Company  C,  dashed  to 
the  front,  and  with  his  shelter-tent  beat  out  a  flame  which 
was  kindling  in  the  autumn  grass,  returning  unhurt  out 
of  a  frightful  peril.  '  Here's  one  for  Corporal  Gray ! ' 
shouted  several  men,  leaping  up  and  pulling  trigger. 
Then  followed,  '  Here's  one  for  Sheridan  ! '  and  '  Here's 
one  for  Lincoln  ! '  and  '  Here's  one  for  McClellan,  who'll 
pay  us  off  in  gold  ! '  and  4  Here's  one  for  Jeff.  Davis  ! 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  237 

until  the  grim  joke  was  played  out  for  lack  of  car- 
tridges. 

"  All  this  time  our  dead  and  wounded  lay  among  us, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  of  the  latter  who  crawled  a 
little  to  the  rear,  and  found  shelter  in  a  ditch.  Among  us, 
too,  were  the  dead  and  wounded  of  the  regiments  which 
we  had  relieved ;  and  the  ground  in  front  of  us  was 
atrewn  with  other  sufferers  who  had  fallen  there  when 
Birge  met  his  reverse.  The  position  of  these  last  was 
horrible  ;  the  musketry  of  both  sides  passed  over  them  in 
a  constant  stream  ;  the  balls  of  friend  and  foe  added  to 
their  agony,  or  closed  it  in  death.  One  of  our  men, 
Private  Brown,  of  Company  C,  was  mortally  wounded 
while  giving  a  drink  of  water  to  an  officer  of  an  Iowa 
regiment  who  lay  within  ten  paces  of  us,  pierced  by 
three  bullets.  W\.  could  not  carry  away  these  children 
of  suffering,  not  even  our  own,  until  the  battle  should  be 
o\  or.  It  was  forbidden  by  orders ;  it  was  contrary  to 
the  regulations  of  the  United  States  army  ;  it  would  have 
been  simply  an  act  of  well-meant  folly  and  cruelty.  We 
could  not  spare  the  men,  who  would  surely  be  killed  or 
wounded  in  the  attempt ;  or  who,  reaching  the  shelter  of 
the  rear  with  their  dangerous  burdens,  would  not  find 
their  way  back  again." 

Such  was  the  "close  line-fighting"  all  over  the  field 
in  this  fierce  battle  hour  of  Northern  and  Southern  valor. 


238  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

The  whole  length  of  the  front  on  both  sides  exhibited  the 
most  desperate  courage.  At  no  point  would  the  troops 
yield,  nor  could  they  advance,  but  "  clung  to  their  own 
positions"  with  a  sublime  tenacity  of  purpose  to  conquer 
or  die. 


CHAPTER  XL 

The  Decisive  Moment  in  the  Battle— The  Victorious  Onset— Scenes  on  the 
Field— The  gallant  Chief  after  the  Triumph— Anecdotes  of  him— The  Dy- 
ing Soldier  after  the  Charge. 

i  T  became  at  last  evident  to  Sheridan  that  the  mo- 
ment for  bold  and  decisive  action  had  come.  The 
Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps  were  to  keep  the 
enemy  busy  with  them  in  unceasing  conflict,  while 
the  Eighth  Corps  was  to  execute  the  "  turning 
movement."  Three  o'clock !  it  was  the  hour  on  which 
hung  the  fortunes  of  the  terrible  day.  From  the  right, 
where  the  undulating  ground  concealed  the  troops  from 
the  rest  of  the  army,  rose  a  battle-cry  heard  over  the  san- 
guinary plains  of  strife  ;  the  wild  shout  of  men  who,  un- 
conquerable, were  rushing  upon  the  hostile  lines  with  re- 
sistless heroism.  Crook  was  advancing.  His  ranks  were 
met  by  such  a  tempest  from  the  solitary  forest  which  lay 
toward  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  as  seldom  beats  upon  brave 
defenders  of  a  national  flag.  It  was  a  continual  roar, 
as  of  the  tornado  when  it  sweeps  with  desolation  in  its 


240  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

track  from  the  wilderness — no  pause,  no  "  tremor"  in  the 
explosion  ;  but  an  awful  "  wail  of  musketry"  swelling  up 
from  the  green  foliage.  Can  Crook's  braves  breast  such 
a  tempest  of  fire,  and  through  it  strike  the  foe  ?  See  them 
stretching  alon£  in  single  line  over  the  open  fields,  steady, 
and  on  the  quickstep,  while  the  dead  and  wounded  drop 
and  are  left  behind.  The  iron  and  leaden  hail  is  poured 
from  the  woods  upon  the  caravan  of  advancing  men, 
who  fire  in  return  occasionally,  but  calmly  and  de- 
liberately, as  though  upon  a  squirrel  hunt  in  that 
Golgotha. 

Writes  an  eye-witness  :  "  At  this  moment  our  whole 
army  assumed  the  offensive.  And  now  occurred  one  of 
those  happy  dashes,  almost  spontaneous  in  their  charac- 
ter, which  so  frequently  aid  in  deciding  a  battle.  At  the 
first  yell  of  Crook's  charge  our  men  reopened  fire  vio- 
lently, exhausting  their  ammunition  in  five  minutes  ;  and 
then  Colonel  Thomas,  of  the  Eighth  Vermont,  regardless 
of  unloaded  muskets  and  empty  cartridge-boxes,  led  on 
his  command  at  a  double  quick  with  the  bayonet.  Gen- 
eral officers  and  staff  officers,  misunderstanding  the  orders 
of  General  Emory,  which  were  to  advance,  came  up  at  a 
gallop,  telling  us  that  we  were  to  be  relieved  by  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  warning  us  to  wait  for 
our  supports,  and  shouting,  '  Halt !  Lie  down  ! '  But  it 
was  impossible  to  check  the  crowd  of  yelling,  running 
madmen  ;  a  few  would  hesitate,  and  stare  around  at  their 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  24:1 

advancing  comrades,  then  they  would  dash  on  with  re- 
newed speed  to  make  up  the  lost  distance.  While  the 
regiment  thus  wavered  between  discipline  and  impulse,  a 
mounted  officer  belonging,  as  I  afterward  heard,  to  Sher- 
idan's staff — a  florid,  dashing  young  fellow,  in  a  gayly- 
embroidered  blue  shirt,  with  trowsers  tucked  into  his 
long  boots — galloped  in  front  of  us  from  the  direction  of 
the  Eighth  Corps,  and  pointed  to  the  wood  with  his  drawn 
sabre.  It  was  the  most  chivalrous,  the  most  picturesque 
equestrianism  of  battle  that  I  ever  saw.  It  was  as  fine 
as  a  painting  of  Horace  Vernet  or  of  Wouvermans.  As 
a  contrasting  picture,  let  me  introduce  an  infantry  officer 
whom  I  noticed  at  the  same  moment,  running  breathless, 
twenty  feet  in  advance  of  the  line,  his  blanket-roll  over 
his  shoulders,  and  his  sword  sheathed,  but  waving  his 
men  forward  with  a  large  brier-wood  pipe,  for  he  was 
smoking  when  the  charge  was  ordered.  From  the  instant 
that  that  American  St.  George  in  the  embroidered  shirt 
appeared,  all  hope  of  stopping  us  vanished.  The  men 
sprang  out  with  a  yell  like  wild  beasts,  and  the  wood  was 
carried  on  a  full  run,  while  the  rebels  rushed  out  of  it  at 
the  top  of  their  speed,  many  of  them  throwing  away  their 
guns  and  accoutrements.  As  we  came  in  from  one  side 
Crook's  troops  entered  from  another,  the  two  concmancls 
converging,  and  for  a  moment  mingling  together  in  the 
tumultuous  triumph. 

"  Thus  passed  the   crisis  of  the  battle.     Early 
16 


24:2  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN. 

used  up  at  least  two  divisions  of  infantry  in  retaking  and 
endeavoring  to  hold  this  wood,  which  was  so  essential  to 
him  ;  1st,  as  covering  his  centre  ;  2d,  as  being  his  most 
favorable  base  whence  to  launch  an  attack  against  our 
course  of  retreat,  the  Berryville  and  Winchester  pike. 
The  slaughter  in  and  around  the  grove  proved  the  im- 
portance which  each  party  attached  to  the  possession  of 
it.  Looking  down  the  gentle  slopes  over  which  our 
troops  had  advanced,  retreated,  and  again  advanced,  we 
saw  piles  and  lines  of  dead  and  wounded  which  could 
hardly  be  estimated  at  less  than  fifteen  hundred  men.  In 
the  wood  lay  the  slaughtered  skirmishers  of  Birge's  bri- 
gade, mingled  with  the  dead  and  severely  wounded  of  the 
rebels,  who  also  dotted  the  fields  beyond.  I  noticed  that 
most  of  our  slain  here  had  been  stripped  of  their  clothing, 
probably  to  cover  the  backs  of  Early's  ragged  soldiers. 
Colonel  Thomas  observed  one  of  our  officers  propped 
against  a  tree  with  a  wounded  rebel  on  each  side  of  him. 

"  '  Courage,  my  friend/  said  he.  4  We  will  take  care 
of  you  soon  ;  but  first  we  want  to  finish  the  enemy/ 

"  The  sufferer  waved  his  hand  feebly,  and  answered 
in  a  low  voice,  '  Colonel,  you  are  doing  it  gloriously/ 

"  Thomas  started,  for  he  now  recognized  in  this  mor- 
tally wounded  man  his  old  companion  in  arms,  the  brave 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Babcock,  of  the  Seventy-fifth  New 
York,  formerly  of  our  brigade. 

"  '  Don't  trouble  yourself  about  me  now/  said  Bab- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN  24:3 

cock.  *  But  when  you  have  done  your  fighting,  will  you 
spare  me  a  couple  of  men  to  carry  me  away  ? ' 

"  Thomas  promised,  and  followed  his  regiment.  Col- 
onel Babcock's  watch  and  money  had  been  taken  by  a 
rebel  officer,  probably  with  the  intention  of  preserving 
them  for  him  ;  but  he  had  also  been  plundered  in  cruel 
earnest  by  the  soldiers,  who  roughly  dragged  off  his 
boots,  although  one  of  his  thighs  was  shattered  by  a 
musket  ball. 

u  The  Eighth  Corps  now  moved  against  the  heights, 
where  Early  made  his  final  stand.  The  Eighth  Vermont 
and  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  in  conjunction 
with  Upton's  men  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  followed  the  troops 
who  had  been  forced  out  of  the  wood,  and,  flanking  them 
with  a  heavy  enfilading  fire,  drove  them  successively  from 
a  rail-fence  and  a  stone  wall,  where  they  attempted  to 
rally.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Van  Petten,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixtieth,  already  had  a  bullet  through  the  thigh, 
but  refused  to  give  up  the  command  of  his  regiment  until 
the  fighting  was  over.  As  he  led  off  at  the  head  of  it 
General  Emory  said  to  him,  '  Colonel,  you  are  going 
into  a  hot  fire  ;  you  had  better  dismount.' 

"  i  Can't  walk,  sir,'  replied  Van  Petten,  pointing  to 
his  bandaged  thigh,  and  rode  onward. 

"  Our  regiment  halted  in  the  grove,  and  waited  for 
ammunition.  Twice  it  wheeled  into  column  of  companies 
to  give  passage  to  Birge's  and  Molineux's  Brigades  of 


24:4  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

Grover's  Division,  which  were  now  pushed  up  as  sup- 
ports to  the  general  advance.  I  could  not  see  that  these 
commands  bore  any  trace  of  the  repulse  of  the  morning ; 
the  ranks  moved  steadily,  and  the  air  of  the  men  was 
composed  and  resolute.  It  must  be  observed,  however, 
that  up  to  this  time  I  did  not  know  our  line  had  suffered 
any  disaster.  They  had  just  passed  when  a  mounted  of- 
ficer, followed  by  a  single  orderly,  galloped  up  to  us.  As 
he  reined  in  his  horse  a  rebel  shell,  one  of  the  many  which 
were  now  tearing  through  the  wood,  burst  within  a  few 
feet  of  him,  actually  seeming  to  crown  his  head  with  its 
deadly  halo  of  smoke  and  humming  fragments. 

"  '  That's  all  right,  boys,'  he  said,  with  a  careless 
laugh.  '  No  matter  ;  we  can  lick  them.' 

"  The  men  laughed ;  then  a  whisper  ran  along  the 
ranks  that  it  was  Sheridan  ;  then  they  burst  into  a  spon- 
taneous cheer. 

u  t  wnat  regiment  is  this?'  he  asked,  and  dashed  off 
toward  the  firing. 

"  Presently  we  advanced,  in  support  of  a  battery  of 
artillery,  over  high  ground  lately  occupied  by  Early's 
centre.  Our  close  fighting  was  over,  and  for  the  rest  of 
the  day  we  were  spectators.  At  the  distance  of  half  a 
mile  from  us,  too  far  away  to  distinguish  the  heroism  of 
individuals,  but  near  enough  to  observe  all  the  grand 
movements  and  results,  the  last  scene  of  the  victorious 
drama  was  acted  out.  Crook's  column  carried  the  heights 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  245 

and  the  fort  which  crowned  them.  We  could  see  the 
long,  dark  lines  moving  up  the  stony  slopes ;  we  could 
see  and  hear  the  smoke  and  clatter  of  musketry  on  the 
deadly  summit ;  then  we  could  hear  our  comrades'  cheer 
of  victory.  Early's  battle  was  rapidly  reduced  to  a  sim- 
ple struggle  to  save  himself  from  utter  rout.  His  mounted 
force  had  been  beaten,  as  usual,  by  Averill,  Torbert,  and 
Custer.  His  infantry,  dreadfully  weakened  by  killed, 
wounded,  prisoners,  and  stragglers,  was  retreating  in 
confusion,  presenting  no  reliable  line  of  resistance.  And 
now,  just  in  the  nick  of  time,  our  cavalry  formed  its 
connection  with  the  extreme  right  of  our  infantry,  so  that 
Sheridan  was  able  to  use  it  promptly  to  complete  its  vic- 
tory. I  saw  a  brigade  of  these  gallant  troopers  gallop  in 
a  long,  straight  line  along  the  crest  of  the  hill,  rush  upon 
Early's  rear,  and  break  up  and  sweep  away  his  disorgan- 
ized regiments  as  easily,  to  all  appearance,  as  a  billow 
tosses  its  light  burden  of  sea-weed.  Seven  hundred  pris- 
oners and  two  guns  were  the  results  of  this  well-timed 
and  brilliant  onslaught.  It  was,  I  believe,  the  most  ef- 
fective cavalry  charge  that  has  been  delivered  during  the 
war  ;  and  it  was  certainly  one  of  the  most  spirit-stirring 
and  magnificent  spectacles  conceivable." 

A  smile  of  victory  wreathed  the  lips  of  the  gallant 
"Phil,"  for  victory  was  secured.  The  infantry  bivou- 
acked two  miles  from  the  gory  field,  toward  which  the 
eyes  of  commanders  and  men  turned  sadly.  Noble  com- 


246  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   SHERIDAN. 

rades  lay  thickly  strewn  over  the  consecrated  soil. 
dearly  are  war's  triumphs  purchased !     How  terrible  is 
the  arbitration  of  the  sword  !     Surely 

"Man's  worst  enemy  is  man." 

Away  dashed  the  cavalry  after  the  prisoners  and  mate- 
riel of  the  enemy,  snatching  squads  of  Confederates  and 
seizing  arms  and  munitions  of  war  along  the  way.  The 
harvest  of  this  kind  from  the  field  of  strife  and  retreat 
was  very  great.  Three  thousand  "  Johnies  "  were  cap- 
tured ;  two  thousand  left  on  the  field  wounded  and  re- 
moved to  Winchester  ;  five  cannon,  fifteen  flags,  and  sev- 
eral thousand  small  arms  were  taken  ;  and  so  demoraliz- 
ing was  the  effect  upon  Early's  troops,  that  further  de- 
feat would  be  inevitable.  The  despatches  from  the  valley 
of  victories  have  peculiar  interest.  They  are  brief  and 
forcible,  and  a  single  expression  used  by  Sheridan, 
"  Whirling  through  Winchester,"  has  often  been  quoted 
and  will  never  be  forgotten. 

"WINCHESTER,  VA.,  September  19,  7:30  P.  M. 
" Lieutenant- General  U.  S.  Grant: 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  report,  that  I  attacked  the  forces 
of  General  Early,  over  the  Berryville  pike,  at  the  crossing 
of  Opequan  Creek,  and  after  a  most  stubborn  and  sangui- 
nary engagement,  which  lasted  from  early  in  the  morn- 
ing until  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  completely  defeated 
him,  driving  him  through  Winchester,  capturing  about 
two  thousand  five  hundred  prisoners,  five  pieces  of  artil- 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  24:7 

lery,  nine  army  flags,  and  most  of  their  wounded.  The 
rebel  Generals  Rhodes  and  Gordon  were  killed,  and  three 
other  general  officers  were  wounded.  Most  of  the  enemy's 
wounded  and  all  their  killed  fell  into  our  hands.  Our 
losses  are  severe.  Among  them  is  General  D.  A.  Russell, 
commanding  a  division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  who  was  killed 
by  a  cannon  ball.  Generals  Upton,  Mclntosh,  and  Chap- 
man were  wounded.  I  cannot  tell  our  losses.  The  con- 
duct of  the  officers  and  men  -was  most  superb.  They 
charged  and  carried  every  position  taken  up  by  the  rebels 
from  Opequan  Creek  to  Winchester. 

"  The  rebels  were  strong  in  numbers,  and  very  ob- 
stinate in  their  fighting.  I  desire  to  mention  to  the 
Lieutenant-General  commanding  the  army,  the  gallant 
conduct  of  Generals  Wright,  Crook,  Emory,  Torbert,  and 
the  officers  and  men  under  their  command.  To  them  the 
country  is  indebted  for  this  handsome  victory.  A  more 
detailed  report  will  be  forwarded. 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General  Commanding. 

"  Full  details  of  casualties  will  be  given  when  received 
by  the  Department. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 


"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ) 

WASHINGTON,  Tuesday,  September  20 — 12  M.  \ 
Major -General  John  A.  Dix  ; 
"  The  following  despatch  has  just  been  received,  giving 


248  LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

further  particulars  of  Sheridan's  great  victory.     A  salute 
of  one  hundred  guns  has  just  been  given : 

"  HARPER'S  FERRY,  Tuesday,  September  20 — 11:40  A.M. 
'  Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton  : 

"  Just  received  the  following  official  from  General 
Sheridan,  dated  one  A.  M.  to-day  : 

"  c  GENERAL  :  We  fought  Early  from  daylight  till  be- 
tween six  and  seven  p.  M.  We  drove  him  from  Opequan 
Creek  through  Winchester  and  beyond  the  town.  We 
captured  two  thousand  five  hundred  to  three  thousand 
prisoners,  five  pieces  of  artillery,  nine  battle  flags,  and 
all  the  rebel  wounded  and  dead. 

"  '  Their  wounded  in  Winchester  amount  to  some  three 
thousand.  We  lost  in  killed  General  David  A.  Russell, 
commanding  a  division  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps,  and 
wounded  Generals  Chapman,  Mclntosh,  and  Upton. 
The  rebels  lost  in  killed  the  following  general  officers : 
General  Rhodes,  General  Wharton,  General  Gordon,  and 
General  Ramseur. 

" 4  We  have  just  sent  them  whirling  through  Win- 
chester, and  we  are  after  them  to-morrow.  This  army 
behaved  splendidly.  I  am  sending  forward  all  the  medi- 
cal supplies,  subsistence  stores,  and  ambulances.' 

"  (Signed)      JNO.  D.  STEVENSON,  Brigadier-Gen. 
EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Sec'y  of  War." 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  249 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ) 

WASHINGTON,  Monday,  September  20 — 8  p.  M.  J 
•*  To  Major- General  Dix,  New  YorTc  : 

"  The  following  is  tlie  latest  intelligence  received  from 
General  Sheridan : 

"  *  HARPER'S  FERRY,  TA.,  Monday,  September  20 — 7  P.  M. 
"  '  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War; 

"  '  The  body  of  General  Russell  has  arrived.  As  soon 
as  it  is  embalmed  it  will  be  forwarded  to  New  York. 
General  Mclntosh,  with  his  leg  amputated,  has  just  come 
in,  and  is  in  good  spirits.  Several  officers  from  the  front 
report  the  number  of  prisoners  in  excess  of  three  thousand. 
The  number  of  battle-flags  captured  was  fifteen,  instead 
of  nine. 

"  '  All  concur  that  it  was  a  complete  rout.  Our  cavalry 
started  in  pursuit  at  daylight  this  morning.  Sheridan, 
when  last  heard  from,  was  at  Kearnstown.  I  sent  for- 
ward this  morning  ample  medical  supplies.  Full  subsist- 
ence for  the  entire  army  goes  forward.  If  you  do  not 
hear  from  me  often,  it  will  be  because  of  the  distance  we 
are  from  the  scene  of  action,  and  because  I  only  send  you 
such  information  as  I  esteem  reliable. 

"  '  JOHN  B.  RICHARDSON,  Brigadier-General.' 

"  The  President  has  appointed  General  Sheridan  a 
Brigadier  in  the  Regular  Army,  and  assigned  him  to  the 
permanent  command  of  the  Middle  Military  Division. 
General  Grant  has  ordered  the  army  under  his  command 


250  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAK. 

to  fire  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns  at  seven  o'clock  to- 
morrow morning  in  honor  of  Sheridan's  great  victory. 

"  A  despatch  just  received  from  General  Sherman,  at 
Atlanta,  says  :  '  Every  thing  continues  well  with  us.' 

"  The  reports  of  to-day  show  that  the  draft  is  proceed- 
ing quietly  in  all  the  States.  In  most  of  the  districts 
vigorous  efforts  are  continued  to  fill  the  quota  by  volun- 
teers before  the  drafted  men  are  mustered  in. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

The  enemy  whirled  on  till  the  defences  were  reached 
at  Fisher's  Hill.  The  slaughter  of  our  men  was  fearful. 
In  the  Nineteenth  corps,  nineteen  hundred  and  forty  were 
killed  and  wounded. 

The  news  of  the  success  of  the  long  anticipated 
collision  of  Lee's  veterans  under  Early,  with  the  forces 
of  General  Sheridan,  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah, 
thrilled  the  popular  heart  with  gladness ;  pointing,  as  it 
did,  to  Richmond,  where  Grant  was  waiting  for  the  hour 
to  strike,  when  the  finishing  blow  upon  the  staggering  re- 
bellion could  be  given  by  his  patient  but  unerring  hand. 

A  Connecticut  cavalry  soldier  who  rode  with  Sheri- 
dan, says  that  he  was  present  when  four  regiments  were 
ordered  to  Winchester  in  charge  of  sixteen  hundred  pris- 
oners. The  rebel  cavalry  harassed  the  guards  on  their 
march,  and  finally  recaptured  one  hundred  men.  "  But 
we  got  into  Winchester,11  said  the  cavalryman,  gleefully, 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  251 

"  with  seventeen  hundred  prisoners— one  hundred  more 
than  we  started  with."  During  the  march,  one  of  the 
prisoners  asked  "  if  Sheridan's  men  rode  night  and  day?" 
"  Oh,  no  !  "  was  the  reply  ;  "  we  get  our  regular  sleep." 
"  Humph  !  we  don't,"  said  the  rebel. 

It  is  related  of  General  Sheridan,  that  when  the  en- 
gagement began  he  stood  off  a  little  to  the  rear,  as  Grant 
would  have  done,  and  endeavored  to  calmly  survey  the 
field  and  direct  the  battle.  But  it  was  not  in  his  nature 
to  remain  passive  for  a  great  while.  When  the  fight 
warmed  up  and  became  general  he  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  and,  drawing  his  sword,  he  exclaimed,  "  I 
can't  stand  this ! "  and  rode  into  the  heat  of  the  en- 
gagement. 

The  scene  before  and  that  after  the  battle,  as  de- 
scribed to  me  by  a  chaplain  who  was  there,  were  both 
highly  animating.  The  movement  of  the  legions  under 
their  enthusiastic  commander,  the  immense  body  of  cav- 
alry going  forth  to  meet  the  enemy,  presented  a  spec- 
tacle rarely  beheld.  It  was  hours  before  the  cavalcade, 
with  some  unavoidable  delay,  passed  along  a  given  point 
of  observation.  And  then  after  the  "  red  field  was  won," 
and  General  Sheridan  walked  leisurely  between  his  head- 
quarters and  the  semicircle  of  trophies,  the  batteries, 
with  broken  carriages,  the  small  arms,  and  the  dilapidated 
prisoaers  of  war,  it  was  a  sight — especially  when  night 
came  down  with  its  darkness  and  the  many  lights  of 


252  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

camp-fires — which  has  been  presented  only  once  on  th* 
plains  of  this  Republic. 

The  gallant  chief  enjoyed  the  scene.  The  Stars  and 
Stripes  never  looked  so  glorious  before ;  for  the  light  of 
conquest  gilded  the  folds,  and  a  new  assurance  was 
given  of  their  speedy  triumph  over  the  dismal  banner 
of  treason. 


CHAPTER  XH. 


A  Prompt  Pursuit^-A  Bold  Front— Skilful  Tactics— The  Attack  on  Early'i  Po- 
sition—The line  Breaks— The  Flight— The  spoils  of  Victory— Cavalry  More- 
ments— Destruction  of  Property— The  Enemy  on  the  Bear— Battle  again, 
and  Victory — Further  Devastation. 


)ITH  brief  pause,  and  with  characteristic  rapid- 
ity of  action,  always  seizing  the  favoring  turn 
of  the  tide,  he  pressed  with  his  entire  force 
upon  the  rebel  position.  But  the  front  was  im- 
pregnable— at  least  too  defiant  for  the  venture 
of  success  on  an  attack  there  alone.  So  the  old  Eighth — 
General  Crook's  corps — was  again  to  turn  the  position  of 
the  foe.  And  while  the  apparent  assault  was  entirely  be- 
fore the  works,  he  swept  round  by  a  long  detour  to  the 
right,  and  finely  flanked  the  rebels,  falling  with  unrivalled 
gallantry  upon  their  rear.  They  were  compelled  to  leave 
the  intrenchments.  While  General  Emory,  leading  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  struck  the  left  heavy  blows,  the  Sixth 
fell  upon  the  centre  and  front,  and  Averill's  cavalry  dashed 
along  the  base  of  South  Mountain.  This  bewildering 


254:  LIFE   OF    GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

mode  of  assault,  demanding  attention  to  several  points  at 
the  instant,  told  tremendously  upon  the  determined  re- 
sistance, soon  breaking  the  ranks  at  the  centre,  and  sep- 
arating thus  the  wings.  Nothing  was  left  the  foe  but 
flight ;  ana  such  a  "  stampede  "  as  that  toward  Wood- 
stock has  seldom  been  witnessed  on  the  ensanguined 
plain.  All  the  ruins  of  war  were  in  the  wake  of  the 
flying  traitors.  Abandoned  cannon,  driverless  horses, 
wagons,  small  arms,  knapsacks,  canteens,  and  clothing 
even,  were  scattered  over  the  miles  of  retreat ;  a  melan- 
choly, and  yet  strangely  true,  welcome  sight  to  our  ex- 
ulting "  boys,"  who  had  borne  the  riddled  flag  of  freedom 
in  the  smoke  of  its  hottest  battles. 

The  rejoicing  General  telegraphed  his  success  to  his 
Lieutenant. General,  who,  with  equal  pride  and  joy,  read 
the  message  the  lightning  brought : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  MIDDLE  MILITARY  DIVISION,  Six  MILES  FROM  ) 
WOODSTOCK,  11:30  p.  M.,  Sept.  22,  1864.      \ 
"  Lieut.-  Gen.  Grant,  Comm'dg  Armies  of  the  U.S.,  City  Point: 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  announce  that  I  achieved  a  signal 
victory  over  the  army  of  General  Early,  at  Fisher's  Hill, 
to-day.  I  found  the  rebel  army  posted  with  its  right  rest- 
ing on  the  north  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  extending 
across  the  Strasburg  valley  westward  to  North  Moun- 
tain, occupying  a  position  which  appeared  almost  impreg- 
nable. After  a  great  deal  of  manosuvring  during  the  day, 
General  Crook's  command  was  transferred  to  the  extreme 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  255 

right  of  the  Hue  on  North  Mountain,  and  he  furiously  at- 
tacked the  left  of  the  enemy's  line,  carrying  every  tiling 
before  him.  While  Crook  was  driving  the  enemy  in  the 
greatest  confusion,  and  sweeping  down  behind  their  breast- 
works, the  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  attacked  the 
rebel  works  in  front,  and  the  whole  army  appeared  to  be 
broken  up.  They  fled  in  the  utmost  confusion.  Sixteen 
pieces  of  artillery  were  captured ;  also  a  great  many 
caissons,  artillery  horses,  &c.,  &c. 

"  I  am,  to-night,  pushing  down  the  valley.  I  cannot 
say  how  many  prisoners  I  have  captured,  nor  do  I  know 
either  my  own  or  the  enemy's  casualties.  Only  darkness 
has  saved  the  whole  of  Early's  army  from  total  destruction. 

"  My  attack  could  not  be  made  till  four  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  which  left  but  little  daylight  to  operate  in. 

"  The  First  and  Third  cavalry  divisions  went  down 
the  Luray  valley  to-day,  and  if  they  push  on  vigorously 
to  the  main  valley  the  result  of  this  day's  engagement 
will  be  still  more  signal.  The  victory  was  very  com- 
plete. A  more  detailed  report  will  be  made  as  soon  as  I 
can  obtain  the  necessary  data. 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Maj.-Gen'l  Commanding. 

"  It  will  be  remembered  that  Early's  command  em- 
braced the  '  Stonewall  Brigade '  and  the  troops  constitut- 
ing '  Stonewall '  Jackson's  corps,  and  was  the  elite  of  the 
rebel  army. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 


256  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

The  chase  was  kept  up  till  the  25th,  driviug  the 
astonished  Early  below  Port  Republic,  a  village  in  Rock- 
ingham  County,  Va.,  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  from 
Washington.  General  Sheridan  telegraphed  the  good 
news  to  General  Grant : 

"  HARRISONBURG,  VA.,  Sept.  29,  1864—7:30  p.  M. 
" Lieutenant- General  U.  S.  Grant,  City  Point: 

"  I  informed  you  that  I  pressed  Early  so  closely 
through  New  Market,  at  the  same  time  sending  cavalry 
around  his  flank,  that  he  gave  up  the  valley  and  took  to 
the  mountains,  passing  through  Brown's  Gap.  I  kept  up 
the  pursuit  to  Port  Republic,  destroying  seventy-five 
wagons  and  four  caissons.  I  sent  General  Torbert,  who 
overtook  me  at  Harrisonburg,  to  Staunton,  with  Wilson's 
division  of  cavalry  and  one  brigade  of  Merritt's.  Tor- 
bert entered  Staunton  on  the  26th,  and  destroyed  a  large 
quantity  of  rebel  Government  property,  harness,  saddles, 
small  arms,  hard  bread,  flour,  repair  shops,  etc. 

"  He  then  proceeded  to  Waynesfooro,  destroying  the 
iron  bridge  over  the  south  branch  of  the  Shenandoah, 
seven  miles  of  the  track,  the  depot  buildings,  a  Govern- 
ment tannery,  and  a  large  amount  of  leather,  flour,  etc., 
at  that  place.  He  found  the  tunnel  defended  by  infantry, 
and  retired  via  Staunton. 

"It  is  my  impression  that  most  of  the  troops  which 
Early  had  left  passed  through  the  mountains  to  Char- 
lottesville ;  that  Kershaw's  division  came  to  his  assist^ 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  257 

ance,  and,  I  think,   passed  along  the   west  base  of  the 
mountains  to  Waynesboro. 

"  I  am  getting  twenty-five  to  forty  prisoners  daily, 
who  come  from  the  mountains  on  each  side  and  deliver 
themselves  up. 

"  From  the  most  reliable  accounts  Early's  army  wa» 
completely  broken  up,  and  is  dispirited. 

"  Kershaw  had  not  reached  Richmond,  but  was  some- 
where in  the  vicinity  of  Gordonsville,  when  he  received 
orders  to  rejoin  Early.  The  destruction  of  the  grain  and 
forage  from  here  to  Staunton  will  be  a  terrible  blow  to 
them.  All  the  grain,  forage,  etc.,  in  the  vicinity  of  Staun- 
ton, was  retained  for  the  use  of  Early's  army.  All  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  valley  was  shipped  to  Richmond 
for  the  use  of  Lee's  army. 

"  The  country  from  here  to  Staunton  was  abundantly 
supplied  with  forage,  grain,  etc. 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General." 

The  fruits  of  the  pursuit  were  eleven  hundred  prison- 
er?, sixteen  pieces  of  artillery,  besides  the  smaller  arms, 
etc.  From  the  19th  to  the  25th  of  September,  the  entire 
loss  to  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded,  captured,  and  miss- 
ing, was  not  less  than  ten  thousand.  Numbers  of  the 
Confederates  were  wanderers  in  the  mountain  sides,  sick 
of  the  contest,  and  resolved  to  keep  out  of  it. 

The   news   of  the    grrand    achievement  was    like   the 


258  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEBIDAN. 

tidings  of  Vicksburg's  fall  to  the  country — it  was  so 
decisive  and  damaging  to  the  cause  of  treason ;  the  com- 
pletion of  a  work  nobly  begun  at  Winchester.  The 
people  gave  a  glad  response,  with  salutes  from  almost  every 
piece  of  crdnance  in  the  loyal  North,  making  Sept.  26th 
one  of  the  memorable  days  of  rejoicing,  amid  the  fluctu- 
ating fortunes  of  the  four  years'  war.  The  Government 
congratulated  the  gallant  General  and  his  army,  the 
President  adding  the  substantial  compliment  of  a  briga- 
dier's appointment  in  the  regular  army,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
made  by  the  death  of  the  brave  McPherson,  universally 
lamented  for  his  martial  genius  and  his  virtues. 

From  Port  Republic  General  Sheridan  sent  General 
Torbert  with  the  cavalry  on  to  Staunton,  the  shire-town 
of  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  situated  on  Lewis  Creek, 
one  of  the  head  branches  of  the  Shenandoah,  an  ancient 
and  beautiful  town,  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  miles  from 
Washington.  The  Court  House  and  Lunatic  Asylum 
were  elegant  buildings.  Large  stores  of  rebel  military 
material  were  there. 

The  troopers  moved  down  upon  the  place  with  resist- 
less swoop,  capturing  the  whole,  and  leaving  the  store- 
houses, machine-shops,  munitions  of  war,  and  provisions, 
only  heaps  of  smouldering  ruins.  Then  onward  they 
dashed  to  Waynesboro,  in  the  same  county,  about  a  dozen 
miles  distant,  at  the  west  foot  of  Blue  Ridge  and  on  South 
River.  The  Virginia  Central  Railroad  passes  througt 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  259 

these  towns,  Waynesboro  lying  easterly  of  the  county 
seat.  The  cavalry  tore  up  the  iron  track,  burned  the 
depot,  the  iron  bridge  over  the  Shenandoah,  a  large  gov- 
ernment tannery,  and  much  property  besides,  useful  in 
rebel  warfare.  Nor  was  this  all.  In  the  rich  valleys 
among  the  head-waters  of  the  Shenandoah,  whose  chan 
nel  is  cut  through  a  region  of  great  fruitfulness,  there  was 
an  abundance  of  grain  and  hay  and  other  products  of  the 
soil.  To  these  the  torch  was  also  applied,  until  the  smoke 
of  devastation  fairly  curtained  the  raiders'  way,  illumined 
with  the  fires  beneath.  It  seems  sad,  indeed,  to  ravage 
God's  garden  of  manifold  fruitful  ess  ;  but  war  is  waste, 
and  to  weaken  both  Early  and  Lee  by  such  ruin,  was 
better,  surely,  than  the  destruction  of  living  men  with 
sword  and  bullet,  and  therefore  desirable,  just  so  far 
as  it  diminished  the  harvest  of  death  on  the  fields  of 
carnage. 

General  Sheridan,  leaving  a  vast  desert  behind  them, 
in  which  the  Confederate  army  could  not  live,  cleared  out 
the  guerrilla  bands  which  had  been  harbored  by  the  dis- 
loyal inhabitants,  and  commenced  his  northward  march. 
October  6th  he  reached  Woodstock,  the  capital  of  Shenan- 
doah County,  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  north  fork 
of  the  river,  about  one  hundred  miles  from  Washington. 

The  following  despatch  gives  the  conqueror's  story  of 
success,  and  of  vengeance  upon  lawless  foes  : 


260  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  WOODSTOCK,  VA.,  Oct.  7,  1864—9  p.  M. 
'  Lieutenant- General  V.  8.  Grant  ; 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  report  my  command  at  this  point 
to-night.  I  commenced  moving  back  from  Port  Repub- 
lic, Mount  Crawford,  Bridgewater,  and  Harrisonburg, 
yesterday  morning.  The  grain  and  forage  in  advance  of 
these  points  had  previously  been  destroyed. 

"  In  moving  back  to  this  point  the  whole  country 
from  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the  North  Mountain  has  been 
made  entirely  untenable  for  a  rebel  army.  I  have  de- 
stroyed over  two  thousand  barns  filled  with  wheat  and 
hay  and  farming  implements,  over  seventy  mills  filled  with 
flour  and  wheat ;  have  driven  in  front  of  the  army  over 
four  thousand  head  of  stock,  and  have  killed  and  issued 
to  the  troops  not  less  than  three  thousand  sheep.  This 
destruction  embraces  the  Luray  valley  and  Little  Fort 
valley,  as  well  as  the  main  valley. 

"  A  large  number  of  horses  have  been  obtained,  a 
proper  estimate  of  which  I  cannot  now  make. 

"  Lieutenant  John  R.  Meigs,  my  engineer  officer,  was 
murdered  beyond  Harrisonburg,  near  Dayton.  For  this 
atrocious  act  all  the  houses  within  an  area  of  five  miles 
were  burned. 

"  Since  I  came  into  the  valley  from  Harper's  Ferry, 
every  train,  every  small  party,  and  every  straggler,  has 
been  bushwacked  by  the  people,  many  of  whom  have  pro- 
tection-Dasses  from  commanders  who  have  been  hitherto 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  261 

in  that  valley.  The  people  here  are  getting  sick  of  the 
war.  Heretofore  they  have  had  no  reason  to  complain, 
because  they  have  been  living  in  great  abundance. 

"  I  have  not  been  followed  by  the  enemy  to  this  point, 
with  the  exception  of  a  small  force  of  the  rebel  cavalry 
that  showed  themselves  some  distance  behind  my  rear- 
guard to-day. 

u  A  party  of  one  hundred  of  the  Eighth  Ohio  cavalry, 
which  I  had  stationed  at  the  bridge  over  the  North  She- 
nandoah,  near  Mount  Jackson,  was  attacked  by  McNeil 
with  seventeen  men  while  they  were  asleep,  and  the  whole 
party  dispersed  or  captured.  I  think  they  will  all  turn 
up.  I  learn  that  fifty-six  of  them  had  reached  Winches- 
ter. McNeil  was  mortally  wounded,  and  fell  into  our 
hands.  This  was  fortunate,  as  he  was  the  most  daring 
and  dangerous  of  all  the  bushwackers  in  this  section  of 
the  country. 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General." 

The  animus  of  the  rebels,  whose  threats  providentially 
recoiled  on  their  own  heads,  is  seen  in  the  words  of  the 
Richmond  Whig  of  October  15th  : 

"  Sheridan  reports  to  Grant,  that  in  moving  down  the 
valley  to  Woodstock,  he  has  burned  over  two  thousand 
barns  filled  with  wheat,  hay,  and  farming  implements, 
and  over  seventy  mills  filled  with  flour  and  wheat.  This 
tvas  done  by  order  of  Grant  himself,  commander  of  all  the 


262  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

Yankee  armies.  It  is  only  the  execution  of  part  of  the 
order  to  destroy  every  thing  in  the  valley  that  will  sustain 
life.  The  fell  work  is  still  going  on.  Now,  it  is  an  idle 
waste  of  words  to  denounce  this  sort  of  war.  We  have 
simply  to  regard  it  as  a  practical  matter,  and  ask  our- 
selves how  it  is  to  be  met.  There  is  one  effectual  way, 
and  only  one  we  know  of,  to  arrest  and  prevent  this  and 
every  other  sort  of  atrocity — and  that  is  to  burn  one  of 
the  chief  cities  of  the  enemy,  say  Boston,  Philadelphia,  or 
Cincinnati,  and  let  its  fate  hang  over  the  other  as  a  warn- 
ing of  what  may  be  done,  and  will  be  done  to  them  if  the 
present  system  of  war  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  is  con- 
tinued. If  we  are  asked  how  such  a  thing  can  be  done, 
we  answer,  nothing  would  be  easier.  A  million  of  dol- 
lars would  lay  the  proudest  city  of  the  enemy  in  ashes. 
The  men  to  execute  the  work  are  already  there.  There 
would  be  no  difficulty  in  finding  there,  here,  or  in  Canada, 
suitable  persons  to  take  charge  of  the  enterprise  and  ar- 
range its  details.  Twenty  men,  with  plans  all  precon- 
certed and  means  provided,  selecting  some  dry,  windy 
night,  might  fire  Boston  in  a  hundred  places  and  wrap  it 
in  flames  from  centre  to  suburb.  They  might  retaliate 
on  Richmond,  Charleston,  etc.  Let  them  do  so  if  they 
dare.  It  is  a  game  at  which  we  can  beat  them.  New 
York  is  worth  twenty  Richmonds.  They  have  a  dozen 
towns  to  our  one,  and  in  their  towns  is  centered  nearly 
all  their  wealth.  It  would  not  be  immoral  and  barbarous 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN.  263 

It  is  not  immoral  or  barbarous  to  defend  yourself  by  any 
means,  or  with  any  weapon  the  enemy  may  employ  for 
your  destruction.  They  choose  to  substitute  the  torch 
for  the  sword.  We  may  so  use  their  own  weapon  as  to 
make  them  repent,  literally  in  sackcloth  and  ashes,  that 
they  ever  adopted  it.  If  the  executive  is  not  ready  for 
this,  we  commend  the  matter  to  the  secret  deliberation  of 
the  Congress  about  to  meet." 

From  his  headquarters,  General  Sheridan  could  look 
toward  the  South,  and  see,  in  imagination,  the  flames 
of  more  than  two  thousand  barns  bursting  with  grass 
and  grain,  and  over  seventy  mills  filled  with  wheat  and 
flour,  which  had  been  kindled  by  his  horsemen,  and 
consuming  the  precious  and  immense  stores  and  forage. 
A.  drove  of  many  hundred  cattle,  and  a  flock  of  three 
thousand  sheep,  had  been  taken  for  the  wants  of  his 
own  army.  General  Sheridan,  fresh  and  youthful  in  ap- 
pearance, always  dressed  in  the  best  style  of  official 
uniform,  leading  his  columns  laden  with  booty,  and 
driving  an  army  of  Virginia  stock  from  the  blackened 
plains,  while  the  negroes,  hailing  the  invaders  when 
permitted  to  do  so,  swelled  the  caravan.  Such  scenes 
the  Old  Dominion  never  witnessed  before,  and  in  her 
pride  of  position  and  historical  importance  had  no"  anti- 
cipated, even  when  she  accepted  the  banner  of  treason. 

Two  days  after  General  Sheridan  reached  Woodstock, 
Major-General  Rosser,  who  had  just  received  his  laurel 


264  LITE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN, 

of  promotion,  began  to  show  a  strong  desire  to  establish 
his  right  to  it,  by  making  a  display  of  valor  upon  the  rear 
of  the  Union  army.  He  therefore  crowded  up,  annoying 
Sheridan  till  he  would  no  longer  bear  the  rebel  attempt 
to  win  distinction  at  his  expense,  and  turned  to  offer  bat- 
tle. The  bold  front  cooled  the  commander's  ardor  at  once. 
Soon  as  General  Sheridan  found  his  ambitious  antagonist 
afraid  to  fight  him,  he  determined  to  make  the  attack. 
Accordingly,  October  9th,  at  daylight,  the  cavalry  charged 
upon  the  enemy  in  front,  moving  along  the  Strasburg 
pike,  and  at  the  same  time  a  division  swept  around  to  the 
rear,  and  struck  him  on  the  flank,  routing  the  crestfallen 
Rosser  after  a  brief  struggle,  and  capturing  eleven  pieces 
of  artillery,  caissons,  a  battery-forge,  nearly  fifty  wagons 
and  three  hundred  prisoners.  Away  the  rebel  troopers 
hurried  in  alarm  with  Sheridan's  men  after  them,  pursued, 
as  he  had  it,  "  on  the  jump,"  for  twenty-six  miles.  The 
chase  was  kept  up  till  the  fugitives  were  beyond  Mount 
Jackson,  across  a  fork  of  the  Shenandoah. 

General  Sheridan's  report  informs  how  and  why  he 
disposed  of  Rosser : 

"  STRASBURG,  VA.,  Midnight,  October  9. 
"  To  Lieutenant- General  Grant,  City  Point ; 

"  In  coming  back  to  this  point,  I  was  not  followed  up 
until  late  yesterday,  when  a  large  force  of  cavalry  ap- 
peared in  my  rear.  I  then  halted  my  command  to  offer 


LITE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  265 

battle  by  attacking  the  enemy.  I  became  satisfied  that  it 
was  only  all  the  rebel  cavalry  of  the  valley,  commanded 
by  Rosser,  and  directed  Torbert  to  attack  at  daylight  this 
morning,  and  finish  this  '  saviour  of  the  valley.'  The  at- 
tack was  handsomely  made.  Custar,  commanding  the 
Third  Cavalry  Division,  charged  on  the  back  road,  and 
Merritt,  commanding  the  First  Cavalry  Division,  on  the 
Strasburg  pike.  Merritt  captured  five  pieces  of  artillery. 
Custar  captured  six  pieces  of  artillery  with  caissons,  bat- 
tery forge,  etc.  The  two  divisions  captured  forty-seven 
wagons,  ambulances,  etc.  Among  the  wagons  captured 
are  the  headquarters  wagons  of  Rosser,  Lomax,  Wick- 
man,  and  Colonel  Pollard.  The  number  of  prisoners  will 
be  about  three  hundred  and  thirty. 

"  The  enemy  after  being  charged  by  our  gallant  cav- 
alry were  broken  and  ran.  They  were  followed  by  our 
men  on  the  jump  twenty-six  miles  through  Mount  Jack- 
son and  across  the  north  fork  of  the  Shenandoah.  I  deem 
it  best  to  make  this  delay  of  one  day  here  and  settle  this 
new  cavalry  general. 

"  The  eleven  pieces  of  artillery  captured  to-day  make 

thirty-six  pieces  captured  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  since 

the  19Ji  of  September.     Some  of  the  artillery  was  new, 

and  never  had  been  fired.      The   pieces  were   marked 

Tredegar  Works/ 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General." 

General  Sheridan  did  settle  him  effectually. 


266  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEEDAN. 

The  subjoined  congratulations  to  the  cavalry  followed 
in  the  wake  of  victory : 

"HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  CORPS,  ) 

MIDDLE  MILITARY  DIVISION,  October  11,  1864.  \ 

"  General  Orders  No.  13.— The  Chief  of  Cavalry  de- 
sires to  congratulate  the  officers  and  men  of  the  cavalry 
of  the  Middle  Military  Division  for  their  unparalleled 
successes  since  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Shenandoah. 

"  You  have  been  ealled  upon  to  endure  many  privations 
and  hardships,  and  they  have  been  borne  with  that  heroic 
fortitude  so  necessary  to  insure  to  you  the  victories  which 
have  crowned  your  efforts. 

u  In  the  battle  of  the  19th  of  September  you  not  only 
routed  the  enemy's  cavalry,  but  gallantly  charged  their 
infantry,  broke  their  lines,  and  captured  many  hundred 
prisoners,  nine  colors,  and  three  guns.  This  success,  fol- 
lowed by  fatiguing  marches  and  harassing  skirmishes  and 
reconnoissances  with  an  ever  vigilant  foe,  and  crowned  by 
your  unprecedented  achievements  on  the  9th  of  October, 
when,  having  broken  the  entire  body  of  their  cavalry,  you 
chaspd  their  routed  columns  over  twenty  miles,  capturing 
eleven  pieces  of  artillery,  two  colors,  many  prisoners,  and 
their  entire  train,  is  a  record  which,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  has  contributed  much  to  the  renown  of  our  arms 
and  the  success  of  our  cause. 

44  By  command  of  Brevet  Major-General  TORBERT." 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  267 

"HEADQUARTERS  MIDDLE  MILITARY  DIVISION,  October  14,  1864. 
"The  following  has  been  received,  and  is  published  for 
the  information  of  the  army : 

"'WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  October  12,  8  P.M. 
"  '  Major- General  SJieridan  : 

"  The  Department  tenders  its  thanks  to  you,  and  through 
you  to  Major-General  Torbert,  Generals  Merritt  and  Cus- 
tar,  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  their  command, 
for  the  brilliant  victories  on  last  Sunday  by  their  gallantry 
over  the  rebel  cavalry  in  the  Shenandoah  valley.  Under 
gallant  leaders  your  cavalry  has  become  the  efficient  arm 
in  this  country  that  it  has  proved  in  other  countries,  and 
is  winning  by  its  exploits  the  admiration  of  the  country 
a-ad  Government. 

"  '  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War. 

"  '  By  command  of     MAJOR-GENERAL  SHERIDAN.' 

"  HEADQUARTERS  CAVALRY  MIDDLE  DIVISION,  October  14,  1864. 
"  This  despatch  will  be  read  at  once  at  the  head  of  every 
regiment  in  this  command.     By  command  of 

u  Major-General  TORBERT." 

General  Early,  doubly  stung  by  his  own  defeat  and 
the  punishment  of  his  cavalry  commander,  resolved  to  try 
his  reenforced  battalions  against  Sheridan  once  more. 
October  1 2th,  under  the  protecting  shadow  of  Little  North 
Mountain,  the  wily  rebel  chief  marched  along  the  slopes, 


268  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

and  fell  upon  the  Union  army  lying  a  few  miles  from 
Fisher's  Hill.  General  Sheridan  had  watched  his  foe, 
and  was  not  unprepared  for  his  coming.  The  fire  of  the 
cavalry  was  promptly  returned,  and  soon  the  conflict  be- 
came general. 

For  three  long  hours  it  raged.  The  boastful  Early 
was  desperate — the  howling  "  Johnnies "  beat  vainly 
against  the  unbroken  front  of  freedom's  battle.  Many 
brave  fellows  went  down  under  the  iron  hoofs  to  rise  no 
more.  And  now  the  bugles  sounded  the  cavalry  charge. 
How  grandly  the  numberless  steeds  hurled  their  riders 
upon  the  ranks  of  treason !  The  steel  gleamed  in  the 
air,  and  the  wild  shout  went  up  over  the  resistless  regi- 
ments, "  They  fly  ! "  Those  words  were  music  to  the 
ears  of  the  hero  who  won  the  field,  because  he  knew  how 
to  lead  men  that  knew  how  to  fight. 

General  Sheridan  thought  his  adversary  was  so 
badly  beaten,  that  for  awhile  he  would  desire  to  be 
let  alone.  He  therefore  seized  the  moment  to  visit 
and  personally  inspect  his  field  of  operations,  and  per- 
fect arrangements  for  further  cooperation  with  General 
Grant.  Meanwhile,  more  thoroughly  to  devastate  Luray 
valley,  from  Front  Royal  to  Sperryville,  he  sent  a  cavalry 
force  there,  especially  to  chastise  the  people  for  assist- 
ance and  shelter  given  by  them  to  the  bandits  roaming 
there — the  u  bushwhackers  "  and  guerrillas  whose  bullets 
had  picked  off  our  unoffending  workmen  along  the  track 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  269 

of  the  Manassas  Gap  Railroad,  which  Sheridan  was  re- 
pairing. 

In  that  quiet  valley  were  captured  six  thousand  five 
hundred  head  of  cattle  and  five  hundred  horses.;  thirty- 
two  extensive  flouring  mills,  thirty  distilleries,  fifty  barns, 
and  several  furnaces  were  burned. 

The  railroad  from  Front  Royal  opened  a  more  con- 
venient thoroughfare  to  Washington,  for  the  passage  of 
troops  and  supplies,  than  the  route  by  Harper's  Ferry. 
It  was  in  running  order  October  15th,  and  over  it  General 
Sheridan  made  a  flying  visit  to  the  Capital. 

The  army  was  lying  a  few  miles  from  Fisher's  Hill, 
right  under  the  shadow  of  the  bold  Massanutten  Mountain. 
From  the  bloody  field  of  Strasburg  to  this  position  it  was 
only  a  two  hours'  infantry  march.  From  Massanutten 
Mountain  the  whole  region  could  be  seen — a  landscape 
forever  memorable  in  history  on  account  of  the  conflicts 
and  victories  there  between  the  second  and  seventh  week 
of  the  autumn  of  1864. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

fhe  Position  of  the  Armies— The  Plot— The  Battle  and  partial  success  of  tho 
Enemy— The  Return  of  the  Dauntless  Chief— The  Kally  and  the  Victory. 

.ENERAL  EARLY  knew  of  the  absence  of  his 
dreaded  enemy,  and  resolved  to  spring  upon  his 
columns  without  their  mighty  leader.  Screened 
by  the  dense  forest  of  Fisher's  Hill,  to  which  he 
fell  back  after  the  affair  of  the  12th,  and  where 
he  was  intrenched,  the  onslaught  was  planned,  and  a 
reinforcement  of  twelve  thousand  troops  added  to  their 
forces,  swelling  the  army  to  twenty-seven  thousand  men. 
Not  quite  half  a  dozen  miles  distant  were  our  troops. 
Their  position  was  an  echelon  of  three  lines — that  is 
to  say,  in  terraces  formed  by  three  separate  hill-crests. 
An  army  in  echelon  is  ranged  in  the  form  of  steps,  one 
division  behind  the  other.  Says  Captain  De  Forest,  who 
was  there : 

"  The  left  and  most  advanced  crest  was  held  by  the 
Army  of  Western  Virginia ;   the  central  one,  half  a  mile 


LITE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  271 

to  the  rear  of  the  first,  by  the  Nineteenth  Corps  ;  the  right 
and  rearmost  by  the  Sixth  Corps.  Crook  commanded 
the  first  step  of  the  echelon,  Emory  the  second,  Wright 
the  third.  Behind  Crook's  left,  and  at  right  angles  to  it, 
guarding  against  a  turning  movement  from  that  quarter, 
lay  a  force  about  equivalent  to  a  brigade,  known  as  Etch- 
ing's Provisional  Division.  The  fronts,  and  to  some  ex- 
tent the  flanks,  of  the  Army  of  Western  Virginia  and  of 
the  Nineteenth  Corps  were  strengthened  by  breastworks 
of  logs  and  earth,  with  batteries  in  position.  Between 
these  two  commands  ran  the  Strasburg  and  Winchester 
pike,  the  great  highway  of  this  part  of  the  valley.  The 
entire  echelon  occupied  by  the  infantry  and  artillery  was 
at  least  three  miles  in  length,  in  addition  to  which  the 
rolling  country  on  the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps  was  occu- 
pied by  Torbert's  superb  calvary.  In  front  the  position 
was  impregnable  except  by  a  surprise,  and  to  turn  it  was 
an  enterprise  so  dangerous  that  it  was  hardly  dreaded. 

"  Before  midnight  Early's  entire  army  was  in  motion. 
His  cavalry  and  light  artillery  had  orders  to  advance 
upon  our  right  so  as  to  occupy  the  attention  of  Torbert 
and  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  His  infantry  marched  in  five 
columns,  of  which  Gordon's,  Ramseur's,  and  Pegram's 
were  to  place  themselves  by  daybreak  on  the  left-rear  of 
the  whole  Union  position,  while  Kershaw's  and  Whar- 
ton's  should  at  the  same  hour  be  close  under  the  in- 
trenched crest  held  by  the  Army  of  Western  Virginia. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

To  turn  our  left  it  was  necessary  to  descend  into  the 
gorge  at  the  base  of  the  Massanutten  Mountain,  ford  the 
north  fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  skirt  Crook's  position 
for  miles,  passing  in  some  places  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  his  pickets.  Three  days  previous  the  movement 
would  have  been  impossible,  as  a  brigade  of  our  cavalry 
then  held  the  road  along  which  the  rebels  now  filed  with- 
out opposition.  As  it  was,  Early's  enterprise  was  haz- 
ardous almost  beyond  parallel.  Had  we  caught  him  in 
the  midst  of  it  we  should  have  ruined  him :  our  infantry 
would  have  cut  his  in  two,  while  our  cavalry  would  have 
prevented  retreat  to  Fisher's  Hill :  he  would  have  lost 
half  his  army,  and  we  should  not  have  lost  a  thousand 
men.  But  the  management  of  the  advance  was  admira- 
ble :  the  canteens  had  been  left  in  camp  lest  they  should 
clatter  against  the  shanks  of  the  bayonets  :  the  men  con- 
ducted themselves  with  the  usual  intelligence  of  the 
American  soldier,  whether  Northern  or  Southern  ;  and 
this  fearfully  perilous  night  march  under  the  nose  of  a 
powerful  enemy  was  accomplished  with  a  success  little 
less  than  miraculous.  There  was  a  moment,  indeed, 
when  the  audacious  column  trod  on  the  brink  of  destruc- 
tion. About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  pickets  of 
the  Fifth  New  York  heavy  artillery,  serving  as  infantry 
in  Kitching's  Division,  heard  a  rustling  of  underbrush  and 
a  muffled,  multitudinous  trampling.  Two  posts  were 
relieved  and  sent  into  camp  with  the  information.  Gen- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEEDAN.  273 

eral  Crook  ordered  his  command  to  be  upon  the  alert 
and  most  of  the  front  line  went  into  the  trenches.  Bu 
there  was  not  a  private  in  the  army,  and  hardly  an  officer 
who  believed  that  the  often-beaten  and  badly-beaten 
Early  would  venture  an  attack.  No  reconnoissance  was 
sent  out  to  see  if  the  alarm  were  well-founded ;  the  gaps 
in  the  front  line  caused  by  the  detachment  of  regiments 
on  picket  were  not,  filled  up  from  the  reserve  ;  and  when 
the  assault  took  place  it  found  many  muskets  unloaded. 
An  hour  before  daybreak  the  rebel  infantry,  shivering 
with  cold,  but  formed  and  ready  for  battle,  lay  within 
six  hundred  yards  of  Union  camps,  which  were  either 
sleeping  or  only  half  awake  with  suspicion.  On  the  ex- 
treme right  was  Gordon,  diagonally  in  rear  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Corps ;  on  the  left  of  Crook,  facing  Kitching's 
provisional  division,  was  "Ramseur  supported  by  Pegram  ; 
in  front  of  Crook  was  Kershaw  supported  by  Wharton. 
There  is  even  an  incredible  story  that  Kershaw*s  men 
regularly  relieved  a  portion  of  the  pickets  of  the  Army 
of  Western  Virginia. 

"  The  '  awful  rose  of  dawn,'  softened  and  sombred  in 
color  by  thick  morning  mist,  had  just  faintly  blossomed 
over  a  low  eastern  crest,  and  dark  lines  of  infantry 
were  dimly  visible  in  the  gray  light,  when,  far  away  on 
our  left,  a  terrific  rattle  of  musketry  burst  forth  with 
amazing  suddenness,  followed  by  scream  on  scream  of 
the  well-known  rebel  battle-yell,  the  savage  clamor  reveal- 
18 


274  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    8HEEIDAN. 

ing  to  us  in  an  instant  that  Early,  in  great  force,  had 
assaulted  Crook's  position.  Grover  listened  to  the  ap- 
palling outburst  of  battle  without  even  a  gesture  of  sur- 
prise, and  said  to  an  aid  in  his  usual  tranquil  tone,  '  Tell 
the  brigade  commanders  to  move  their  men  into  the 
trenches.' 

"  I  galloped  back  to  corps  headquarters  to  inform 
General  Emory  of  what  he  knew  as  well  as  I. 

"  '  Go  and  report  to  the  General  commanding,'  he 
replied,  'that  the  enemy  have  attacked  Crook's  left  in 
force.' 

"  As  I  rode  away  I  heard  him  remark,  '  I  said  so. 
I  knew  that  if  we  were  attacked  it  would  be  there.' 

"  I  must  be  permitted  here  to  do  justice  to  the  pre- 
vision of  my  corps  commander.  Two  days  previous  to 
this  he  had  visited  Crook's  position,  and  had  asserted  that 
it  did  not  command  the  valley  in  its  front,  and  that  we 
could  be  turned  from  that  quarter.  'They  can  march 
thirty  thousand  men  through  there,'  he  said,  '  and  we 
not  know  it  till  we  have  them  on  our  flank.' 

u  I  found  General  Wright,  surrounded  by  his  staff, 
preparing  to  mount. 

" i  Have  you  any  knowledge  how  the  assault  has  suc- 
ceeded ? '  he  asked,  when  I  had  delivered  my  message. 

"  *  None.  I  5an  only  guess.  I  suppose  it  has  failed. 
I  infer  it  from  the  sudden  cessation  of  the  firing  and 
yelling.' 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  275 

This  was  indeed  a  bad  u  guess."  In  the  dense  fog, 
Kershaw's  column  rushed  upon  the  pickets  of  General 
Crook,  without  stopping  to  reply  to  their  musketry,  and 
gathered  them  up,  while  the  troops  in  the  trenches  could 
not  see  the  condition  of  affairs,  and  either  threw  away 
their  fire  because  the  foe  was  upon  them,  or  were  found 
with  unloaded  rifles.  ^  Then  came  the  beating  of  the  liv- 
ing tide  against  the  breastworks  ;  a  few  minutes  it  paused, 
and  through  the  undefended  rents  the  living  streams 
poured  in  hideous  exultation.  The  Union  boys  fell  on 
the  right  hand  and  the  left ;  and  then  came  the  panic,  and 
flight  of  the  unfallen  ranks !  Scarcely  fifteen  minutes 
had  elapsed  since  the  onset,  and  the  army  of  Western 
Virginia,  so  lately  covered  with  the  glory  of  great  suc- 
cesses, went  surging  back  toward  the  position  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps.  Whatever  of  valor  there  may  have 
been  in  portions  of  the  field  after  the  break,  the  rebel  ad- 
vance was  unchecked  in  fact ;  the  surprise  and  defeat  was 
complete.  "  No  daybreak  rush  of  moccasoned  savages 
was  ever  more  silently,  rapidly,  and  dexterously  executed 
than  this  charge  of  Kershaw." 

An  entire  battalion  of  the  Fifth  New  York  heavy 
artillery  was  caught  up  on  the  picket  line,  with 
only  a  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  but  seven  hundred 
taken  prisoners.  The  Nineteenth  Corps  was  left  to  fight 
alone  for  a  disorganized  army,  while  the  Sixth  Corps  was 
before  the  advancing  cavalry  and  light  artillery,  with  how 


276  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

large  an  infantry  force  behind  no  one  knew.     Continues 
Captain  De  Forest : 

"  When  I  reached  our  headquarters  on  my  return 
from  General  Wright's,  I  was  amazed  by  hearing  on  our 
left-rear  a  lively  rattle  of  picket  musketry.  I  thought  of 
riding  up  to  the  misty  crest,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant, 
which  stopped  the  view  in  that  direction ;  but  no  heavy 
firing  ensued,  and  I  concluded  that  it  was  only  a  trifling 
affair  between  our  outposts  and  some  scouting  party  of 
cavalry.  Had  I  put  my  first  thought  into  execution,  I 
should  have  seen  Gordon's  column,  solidly  massed,  com- 
ing swiftly  up  the  slope,  disdaining  to  reply  to  the  pick- 
ets, and  driving  them  with  the  mere  weight  of  its  ad- 
vance. Here,  as  everywhere  throughout  the  battle,  the 
enemy  knew  our  ground  perfectly,  and  in  consequence 
moved  over  it  without  wasting  their  time  in  reconnoitring 
or  their  troops  in  skirmishing.  It  was  this  amazing 
rapidity  of  manoeuvre,  this  audacity  which  could  not  be 
foreseen  nor  guarded  against,  that  beat  us.  To  fight 
with  any  chance  of  success  we  must  change  our  whole 
front ;  and  yet  we  did  not  know  it,  nor  had  we  the  time 
to  effect  it.  The  position  which  Gordon  was  now  on  the 
point  of  seizing  was  a  broad,  bare  hill,  of  which  the  south- 
western declivity  sloped  gently  toward  the  camp  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  and  commanded  it.  From  the  mo- 
ment that  he  held  it  we  were  sure  to  go ;  ten  thousand 
men  there  would  easily  drive  out  fifteen  thousand  here ; 


LIFE   OF    GENEKAL    SHERIDAN.  277 

all  the  more  easily,  of  course,  if  they  could  take  them,  as 
we  were  taken,  in  reverse.  The  rebel  force  on  this  side, 
including  the  now  not  distant  divisions  of  Ramseur  and 
Pegram,  was  as  strong  as  Emory's,  and  it  was  support- 
ed by  another  column,  almost  as  numerous,  coming  up 
through  the  woods  on  our  left  and  along  the  pike  in  our 
front.  The  Nineteenth  Corps  was  not  only  attacked  in 
rear,  but  it  was  outnumbered.  It  might  hold  on  for  an 
hour ;  and  so  it  did  hold  on  for  a  hopeless,  sanguinary 
hour,  but  that  was  all  that  mortals  could  do. 

"  General  Emory  had  already  been  joined  by  Generals 
Wright  and  Crook  when  I  found  him  near  the  breast- 
works. He  knew  consequently  that  a  great  disaster  had 
happened,  but  he  said  nothing  of  it  in  my  hearing,  and  I 
was  far  from  guessing  it.  I  saw,  indeed,  a  ceaseless  flow 
of  stragglers  pouring  out  of  the  wood  on  our  left,  and 
passing  us  toward  the  rear ;  but  I  supposed  that  they 
were  the  cooks,  etc.,  of  Crook's  command,  getting  out 
of  the  range  of  fire,  according  to  the  prudent  custom  of 
non-combatants.  It  seems  that  McMillan's  Brigade  had 
already  been  pushed  out  in  that  direction  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  enemy,  and  to  enable  the  West  Virginian 
army  to  rally.  Fearing  that  this  brigade  had  broken, 
General  Emory  sent  me  to  find  out  who  the  stragglers 
were.  As  I  approached  the  wood  the  stream  of  fugi- 
tives increased  in  volume  until  it  was  like  a  division  in 
column  of  march,  except  that  there  were  no  files,  nc 


278  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

ranks,  no  organization.  They  were  not  breathless,  not 
running,  but  they  were  going  to  the  rear  in  utter  con- 
fusion. 

"  ;  To  the  Eighth  Corps/  « To  the  Eighth  Corps, 
man  after  man  responded  when  I  asked  what  command 
they  belonged  to. 

"  '  Captain,  what  does  this  mean !'  I  said  to  the  first 
officer  whom  I  met. 

"  '  Why,  I  suppose  it  means  that  we  are  retreating/ 
he  replied,  with  a  bitter  smile. 

"'What!  has  Crook  been  driven  from  his  posi- 
tion?' I  exclaimed,  realizing  at  last  the  all  but  incred- 
ible calamity. 

"  '  His  men  have,'  he  said,  with  the  same  hopeless 
smile,  glancing  around  at  the  horde  of  retreating  sol- 
diers. 

"  In  going  back  to  the  General  I  rode  along  the  line 
of  McMillan's  Brigade,  and  warned  such  regimental  com- 
manders as  I  could  see  that  their  fiery  trial  was  at  hand. 
I  had  scarcely  left  it  when  another  aide  came  up  with 
orders  for  it  to  advance,  and,  breasting  the  current  of 
fugitives,  it  pushed  into  the  tangled  wood  which  was 
soon  to  be  its  slaughter-pen.  About  the  same  time  Gen- 
eral Emory  ordered  two  other  brigades  across  the  pike, 
with  instructions  to  face  toward  the  crest  on  which  Gor- 
don was  beginning  to  show  himself.  The  remaining 
three  brigades  of  the  corps  continued  at  the  breastworks 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  279 

It  was  evident  that  to  hold  our  position  we  needed  the 
help  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  it  was  almost  equally  evi- 
dent that  it  would  not  arrive  in  time. 

"  A  roar  of  musketry  from  the  wood  told  us  that 
McMillan's  Brigade  had  opened  its  struggle,  but  did  not 
tell  us  how  hopelessly  it  was  overmatched,  flanked  on  the 
left  as  it  was  by  Ramseur,  and  charged  in  front  and  on 
the  right  by  Kershaw.  Within  a  space  of  ten  minutes  a 
sanguinary  drama  was  enacted  in  that  tangled  thicket 
of  trees  and  undergrowth.  My  own  old  regiment,  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  fired  three  volleys  at  close  quarters 
before  it  was  forced  into  the  first  retreat  that  it  ever  made 
under  the  assault  of  an  enemy.  The  resistance  of  the 
other  regiments  was  similarly  desperate,  bloody,  brief, 
and  hopeless.  In  the  haste  of  slaughter  men  could  not 
reload,  but  fought  with  their  bayonets  and  clubbed  rifles. 
After  the  battle  was  over,  we  found  corpses  here  with 
their  skulls  crushed  by  the  blows  of  musket-buts,  and 
with  their  life-blood  clotted  around  the  triangular  wounds 
made  by  bayonets.  The  opposing  troops  were  so  inter- 
mingled that  they  could  not  in  all  cases  distinguish  each 
other  as  enemies.  '  What  the  devil  are  you  firing  this 
way  for?'  said  Lieutenant  Mullen,  of  the  Twelfth  Con- 
necticut, to  a  squad  which  he  supposed,  from  its  position, 
to  belong  to  the  Eighth  Vermont,  but  which  was  shooting 
down  the  men  of  his  company.  The  answer  was  half  a 
dozen  rifle  shots,  fortunately  ill-aimed,  and  an  equally  in- 


280  LIFE   OF   GENEKAL   SHEKIDAN. 

efficacious  summons  of, '  Surrender,  you  damned  Yankee  ! 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Lewis,  of  the  same  regiment,  was 
saluted  by  cries  of,  «  Shoot  that  officer  J '  followed  by  a 
scattering  volley  of  harmless  bullets.  As  the  shattered 
ranks  came  out  upon  the  open  ground  they  were  raked  by 
the  fire  of  a  line  drawn  up  across  the  very  hollow  through 
which  they  had  entered  the  wood  not  twenty  minutes 
previous.  During  that  day  the  brigade  lost  more  than 
one-third  of  its  fighting  men,  the  greater  part  of  them  on 
this  horrible  hill  of  sacrifice,  where  it  offered  itself  up  for 
the  salvation  of  the  army.  Among  those  who  died  here 
was  Corporal  William  Putnam,  of  Company  C,  Twelfth 
Connecticut,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  revolutionary  gen- 
eral and  patriot,  and  a  brave,  noble  young  soldier. 

"  Not  a  regimental  color  was  lost,  and  the  brigade 
rallied  two  hundred  yards  from  the  scene  of  its  defeat. 
But  this  second  stand  was  feeble  and  momentary,  effect- 
ing nothing  but  a  little  more  useless  bloodshed.  As  a 
rule,  troops  cannot  be  rallied  for  good  under  the  same 
fire  that  has  already  broken  them,  unless  they  are  sup- 
ported by  a  reenforcement  strong  enough  to  take  the 
brunt  of  the  contest  off  their  hands  at  least  for  a  few 
minutes.  A  semicircle  of  dropping  musketry  converged 
on  the  new  position,  coming  up  the  pike  on  the  right,  out 
of  the  wood  in  front,  and  down  the  slope  on  the  left.  The 
men  seemed  bewildered,  and  could  not  be  brought  to  fire  ; 
indeed,  it  was  difficult  for  them  to  judge  which  way  thejr 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  281 

ought  to  fire.  As  I  rode  along  the  rear,  begging  them  to 
stand  fast  and  use  their  rifles,  I  was  amazed  to  observe 
how  these  veterans  of  many  fights  differed  from  their 
former  selves  as  I  had  seen  them  on  fields  of  victory 
To  get  another  desperate  struggle  out  of  them  here  was 
evidently  impossible ;  and  some  one  wiser  than  I,  and 
possessed  of  more  authority,  ordered  a  retreat. 

"  A  broad  view  of  the  field  was  to  be  had  from  the 
elevated  point  I  occupied ;  and  I  could  clearly  see  that 
the  battle  on  our  present  line  was  lost  beyond  redemption  ; 
was  indeed  already  roaring  and  smoking  half  a  mile  to 
the  rear  of  us.  The  Sixth  Corps  was  pushing  toward  the 
wood  behind  the  late  site  of  our  headquarters,  and  en- 
deavoring to  regain  possession  of  the  pike,  but  with 
doubtful  prospects  of  success.  Gordon,  extending  con- 
stantly by  the  right,  and  supported  now  by  the  full  force 
of  Ramseur  and  Pegram,  seemed  to  be  outflanking  them 
as  he  had  previously  outflanked  us.  Except  the  two 
brigades  of  Birge  and  Davis,  all  our  Nineteenth  Corps, 
unable  to  rally  on  an  uncovered  slope,  was  retreating 
across  the  front  and  toward  the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps' 
position.  I  had  scarcely  taken  in  this  fact  when  Taft  was 
ordered  to  withdraw  in  the  same  direction.  The  only 
road  left  him  was  the  natural  face  of  the  steep  and  rocky 
hill.  The  attempt  was  coolly  and  carefully  made:  no 
New  Hampshire  stage-driver  could  be  more  deliberately 
sagacious  over  a  nasty  piece  of  road  than  were  thesa 


282  LIFE   OF    GENEKAL    SHEEIDAN. 

artillerymen  ;  but  three  of  the  four  brass  Napoleons  were 
left  bottom  up  in  the  rugged  gullies. 

"  And  now  the  struggle  to  retain  possession  of  GUI 
camp  was  over.  Birge's  and  Davis' s  brigades  filed  in 
good  order  down  a  stony  slope  overgrown  with  thickets, 
forded  Cedar  Creek,  and  mounted  the  irregular  height  on 
the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  Here  they  formed  line  of 
battle  along  a  low  crest  over  which  Kershaw's  bullets 
were  singing.  Other  troops  were  there ;  but  what  they 
were  I  cannot  say — I  was  too  busy  to  ask.  One  line  had 
four  regimental  colors  in  it,  and  must  have  been  a  bri- 
gade, but  could  not  have  contained  more  than  two  hun- 
dred men.  In  front  of  us,  firing  from  the  undulating 
plateau  which  we  had  just  quitted,  we  could  see  the  rebel 
infantry.  For  a  few  minutes  the  battle  was  sharp  here  ; 
and  then  it  slowly  swept  rearward  again.  It  was  Early's 
continually  extending  right  which  turned  us  out  of  this,  as 
it  had  turned  us  out  of  e\  ery  other  line  that  we  had  at- 
tempted to -hold.  The  Sixth  Corps  could  no  more  out- 
front  it  or  resist  it  than  we.  All  our  fighting  that  morn- 
ing was  fragmentary,  and  consequently  feeble  in  effect, 
however  gallant  in  purpose  and  bloody  in  character.  We 
never  could  get  men  enough  into  action  at  once ;  the 
enemy  forever  overlapped  our  front  and  doubled  back  our 
left.  As  a  group  of  camp-followers  passed  me,  I  heard 
one  of  them  say  loudly  and  cheerfully,  '  The  bloody  Sixth 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  283 

is  going  in.     They'll  stop  these  blasted  cusses.    They  say 
that  they'll  hold  'em  ! ' 

"  But  the  '  bloody  Sixth '  was  forced  to  go,  like  the 
Army  of  Western  Virginia  and  the  Nineteenth  Corps  be- 
fore it,  only  perhaps  with  rather  more  deliberation  and 
unity,  just  in  proportion  as  it  had  more  time  to  prepare 
for  the  struggle,  and  to  learn  the  course  of  the  hostile  ad- 
vance. I  was  beside  Birge  and  close  in  rear  of  his  bri- 
gade, when  I  saw  him  look  anxiously  toward  the  pike, 
and  then  order  a  retreat.  The  Sixth  Corps  was  retiring, 
and  we  were  in  danger  of  being  enfiladed.  A  thousand 
yards  further  to  the  rear,  on  another  crest,  the  line  again 
halted,  fronted,  and  opened  fire,  while  strenuous  efforts 
were  made  to  bring  up  and  reorganize  the  mass  of  strag- 
glers who  were  sauntering  across  the  fields  toward  Win- 
chester. Chase's  battery  and  what  remained  of  Taft's 
went  into  position ;  and  for  perhaps  half  an  hour  the 
battle  raged  with  fury,  our  men  standing  up  to  their  work 
with  the  persevering  courage  of  veterans  ;  and  then,  once 
more,  we  went  slowly  to  the  rear,  the  movement  com- 
mencing inevitably  on  the  left,  where  the  Sixth  Corps  was 
anew  outflanked  by  that  indefatigable  Gordon.  Fifteen 
hundred  yards  further  back  we  again  turned  at  bay.  The 
men  hastily  gathered  rails  and  threw  up  rude  field  works 
under  a  long-range  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery.  A  regi- 
ment of  cavalry,  commanded  by  a  jolly,  red-faced  colonel, 
whose  name  I  did  not  learn,  deployed  in  line  with  drawo 


284  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

Babres,  and  turned  back  some  hundreds  of  stragglers,  who 
were  immediately  clapped  into  whatsoever  regiment  came 
handiest.  The  Nineteenth  and  Sixth  Corps  were  united. 
We  had  succeeded  at  last  in  dragging  our  left  flank  out 
of  the  grasp  of  Gordon.  We  were  in  fair  condition  to 
fight  a  defensive  battle.  Whether  the  rebels  perceived 
this,  or  whether  they  were  simply  weary  and  disorganized 
with  pursuing,  I  cannot  say  ;  but  their  advance  was  now 
slow  and  cautious.  There  was  no  musketry  ;  only  a  little 
long-range  artillery.  I  supposed  that  we  should  make  a 
final  stand  in  this  position.  But  we  had  been  driven  clean 
off  the  pike ;  and  as  it  was  necessary  to  recover  it  be- 
fore we  could  consider  our  communications  secure,  Gen- 
eral Wright  again  ordered  the  whole  army  to  retreat. 
No  longer  disturbed  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy  the  line  filed 
into  columns  of  marcli  by  regiments,  and  moved  delib- 
erately in  the  direction  of  Winchester,  inclining  diago- 
nally toward  the  pike. 

"  Its  columns  were  three  miles  from  the  point  where 
the  fight  had  commenced,  and  the  van  of  its  multitudinous 
stragglers  was  already  entering  Winchester.  I  wish  it  to 
be  distinctly  understood  that  at  this  period  of  the  day  we 
had  suffered  a  clear  defeat ;  that  we  were  in  the  condition 
under  which  most  generals  are  satisfied  to  withdraw  their 
troops  from  the  scene  of  contest  in  decent  order.  We 
had  completely  lost  one  battle  ;  we  had  lost  camps,  lines 
of  earthworks,  twenty-four  guns,  and  twelve  hundred 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   8HEETDAN.  285 

prisoners  ;  we  had  not  been  routed,  but  we  had  been  un- 
deniably and  badly  beaten.  The  battle  of  the  morning 
and  the  battle  of  the  afternoon  were  two  different  com- 
bats ;  in  the  first  we  were  flanked  and  driven,  in  the 
second  we  flanked  and  pursued. 

"  At  this  time,  at  the  close  of  this  unfortunate  strug- 
gle of  five  hours,  we  were  joined  by  Sheridan,  who  had 
passed  the  night  in  Winchester  on  his  way  back  from 
Washington,  and  who  must  have  heard  of  Early's  attack 
about  the  time  that  its  success  became  decisive.  It  was 
near  ten  o'clock  when  he  came  up  the  pike  at  a  three- 
minute  trot,  swinging  his  cap  and  shouting  to  the  strag- 
glers, '  Face  the  other  way,  boys.  We  are  going  back  to 
our  camps.  We  are  going  to  lick  them  out  of  their  boots.' 

"  The  wounded  by  the  roadside  raised  their  hoarse 
voices  to  shout ;  the  great  army  of  fugitives  turned  about 
at  sight  of  him,  and  followed  him  back  to  the  front ;  they 
followed  him  back  to  the  slaughter  as  hounds  follow 
their  master.  The  moment  he  reached  the  army  he  or- 
dered it  to  face  about,  form  line,  and  advance  to  the  po- 
sition which  it  had  last  quitted.  Then  for  two  hours  he 
rode  along  the  front,  studying  the  ground  and  encourag- 
ing the  men.  '  Boys,  if  I  had  been  here  this  never 
should  have  happened,'  he  said  in  his  animated  earnest 
way.  ;  I  tell  you  it  never  should  have  happened.  And 
now  we  are  going  back  to  our  camps.  We  are  going  to  get 
&  twist  on  them.  We  are  going  to  lick  them  out  of  theii 


286  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

boots.'  The  Sixth  Corps  held  the  pike  and  its  vicinity.  On 
its  right  the  Nineteenth  Corps  was  formed  in  double  line, 
under  cover  of  a  dense  wood,  the  first  division  cu  the 
right,  the  second  on  the  left.  The  rearmost  line  threw  up 
a  rude  breastwork  of  stones,  rails,  and  trees,  covered  by 
the  advanced  line  standing  to  arms,  and  by  a  strong  force 
of  skirmishers  stationed  two  hundred  yards  to  the  front, 
but  still  within  the  forest.  For  two  hours  all  was  silence, 
preparation,  reorganization,  and  suspense.  Then  came  a 
message  from  Sheridan  to  Emory,  that  the  enemy  in 
column  were  advancing  against  the  Nineteenth  Corps ; 
and  shortly  afterwards  the  column  appeared  among  the 
lights  and  shadows  of  the  autumnal  woods,  making  for 
the  centre  of  our  second  division.  There  was  an  awful 
rattle  of  musketry,  which  the  forest  reechoed  into  a  deep 
roar,  and  when  the  firing  stopped  and  the  smoke  cleared 
away  no  enemy  was  visible.  Emory  immediately  sent 
word  to  Sheridan  that  the  attack  had  been  repulsed. 

"  *  That's  good,  that's  good  ! '  Sheridan  answered, 
gayly.  'Thank  God  for  that!  Now,  then,  tell  Gen- 
eral  Emory  if  they  attack  him  again  to  go  after  them, 
and  to  follow  them  up,  and  to  give  it  to  them. 
We'll  get  the  tightest  twist  on  them  yet  that  ever 
you  saw.  We'll  have  all  those  camps  and  cannon 
back  again.'  All  this  with  the  nervous  animation  char- 
acteristic of  the  man,  the  eager  and  confident  smile, 
and  the  energetic  gesture  of  the  right  hand  down  into 


LITE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  287 

the  palm  of  the  left  at  every  repetition  of  the  idea  of 
attack. 

"  At  half  past  three  came  more  explicit  orders.  4The 
entire  line  will  advance.  The  Nineteenth  Corps  will 
move  in  connection  with  the  Sixth  Corps.  The  right  of 
the  Nineteenth  will  swing  toward  the  left,  so  as  to  drive 
the  enemy  upon  the  pike.' 

"  One  of  our  staff  officers  exclaimed,  '  By  Jove,  if  we 
beat  them  now  it  will  be  magnificent ! ' 

"'And  we  are  very  likely  to  do  it/  said  General 
Emory.  4  They  will  be  so  far  from  expecting  us/ 

"  It  must  be  understood  that  the  enemy's  left  was 
now  his  strong  point,  being  supported  by  successive 
wooded  crests  ;  while  his  right  ran  out  to  the  pike  across 
andulating  open  fields  which  presented  no  natural  line  of 
resistance.  Sheridan's  plan  was  to  push  them  off  the 
crests  by  a  turning  movement  of  our  right,  and  then, 
when  they  were  doubled  up  on  the  pike,  sling  his  cavalry 
at  them  across  the  Middletown  meadows.  With  a  solemn 
tranquillity  of  demeanor  our  infantry  rose  from  the  posi- 
tion where  it  had  been  lying,  and  advanced  through  the 
forest  into  the  open  ground  beyond.  There  was  a  silence 
of  suspense  ;  then  came  a  screaming,  cracking,  humming 
rush  of  shell ;  then  a  prolonged  roar  of  musketry,  min- 
gled with  the  long-drawn  yell  of  our  charge  ;  then  the 
artillery  ceased,  the  musketry  died  into  spattering  bursts, 
and  over  all  the  yell  rose  triumphant.  Every  thing  on 


288  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEEDAN. 

the  first  line,  the  stone-walls,  the  advanced  crest,  the 
tangled  wood,  the  half-finished  breastworks  had  been 
carried.  The  first  body  of  rebel  troops  to  break  and  fly 
was  Gordon's  Division,  the  same  which  had  so  persever- 
ingly  flanked  us  in  the  morning,  and  which  was  now 
flanked  by  our  own  First  Division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps. 
"  After  this  there  was  a  lull  in  the  assault,  though  not 
in  the  battle.  The  rebel  artillery  reopened  spitefully  from 
a  new  position,  and  our  musketry  responded  from  the 
crest  and  wood  which  we  had  gained.  Sheridan  dashed 
along  the  front,  reorganizing  the  line  for  a  second  charge, 
cheering  the  men  with  his  confident  smile  and  emphatic 
assurances  of  success,  and  giving  his  orders  in  person  to 
brigade,  division,  and  corps  commanders.  He  took 
special  pains  with  the  direction  of  our  First  Division, 
wheeling  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  face  square  toward 
the  pike,  and  form  nearly  a  right  angle  to  the  enemy's 
front.  Now  came  a  second  charge  upon  a  second  line  of 
stone- walls,  crests,  and  thickets,  executed  with  as  much 
enthusiasm  and  rapidity  as  if  the  army  had  just  come 
into  action.  Remember  that  our  gallant  fellows  had 
eaten  nothing  since  the  previous  evening  ;  that  they  had 
lost  their  canteens,  and  were  tormented  with  thirst ;  that 
they  had  been  fighting  and  manoeuvring,  frequently  at 
double-quick,  for  nearly  twelve  hours  ;  and  that  they  were 
sadly  diminished  in  numbers  by  the  slaughter  and  con- 
fusion of  the  morning.  Remember,  too,  that  this  lost 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  289 

battle  was  retrieved  without  a  reinforcement.  Only  veter- 
ans, and  only  veterans  of  the  best  quality,  disciplined,  in- 
telligent, and  brave,  could  put  forth  such  a  supreme  effort 
at  the  close  of  a  long,  bloody,  and  disastrous  conflict. 
As  one  of  Sheridan's  staff  officers  followed  up  our  First 
Division,  and  watched  the  yelling,  running,  panting 
soldiers,  not  firing  a  shot,  but  simply  dashing  along  with 
parched,  open  mouths,  he  saH,  '  Those  men  are  doing  all 
that  flesh  and  blood  can.' 

" '  Your  fellows  on  the  right  went  in  mighty  pretty 
this  afternoon,'  I  heard  Cubtai  say  that  evening  to  Emory 
'  I  had  to  sing  out  to  my  men/  ''Are  you  going  to  let  the 
infantry  beat  you  ?  " 

"  Every  body  now  knows  by  reputation  this  brilliant 
officer,  and  can  audet  stand  that  we  have  a  right  to  be 
proud  of  his  praise. 

"  The  battle  was  ewer.  Cavalry  on  the  flanks  and 
infantry  in  the  centre,  we  carried  the  second  line  with  the 
same  rush  and  with  even  greater  ease  than  the  first. 
Again  Early* s  army  was  '  whirling  up  the  Valley/  in 
more  hopeless  confusion  this  time  than  after  Winchester 
or  Sti-iisburjy  no  exertions  of  the  rebel  officers  being 
sufficient  to  establish  another  line  of  resistance,  or  to 
check,  even  momentarily,  the  flow  and  spread  of  the  panic. 

"  It   was  nearly   dark  when   our  corps  reached  its 
camps.     No  new  arrangement  of  the  line  was  attempted : 
in  the  twilight  of  evening  the  regiments  filed  into  tlie 
19 


290  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

same  positions  that  they  had  quitted  in  the  twilight  of 
dawn ;  and  the  tired  soldiers  lay  down  to  rest  among 
dead  comrades  and  dead  enemies.  They  had  lost  every 
thing  but  what  they  bore  on  their  backs  or  in  their  hands  ; 
their  shelter-tents,  knapsacks,  canteens,  and  haversacks 
had  been  plundered  by  the  rebels ;  and  they  slept  that 
night,  as  they  had  fought  that  day,  without  food. 

"  But  there  was  no  rest  for  the  enemy  or  for  our  cav- 
alry. All  the  way  from  our  camps  to  Strasburg,  a  dis- 
tance of  four  miles,  the  pike  was  strewn  with  the  debris 
of  a  beaten  army ;  and  the  scene  in  Strasburg  itself  was 
such  a  flood  of  confused  flight  and  chase,  such  a  chaos  of 
wreck  and  bedlam  of  panic,  as  no  other  defeat  of  the  war 
can  parallel.  Guns,  caissons,  ammunition,  wagons,  bag- 
gage wagons,  and  ambulances  by  the  hundred,  with  dead 
or  entangled  and  struggling  horses,  were  jammed  in  the 
streets  of  the  little  town,  impeding  alike  fugitives  and 
pursuers.  Our.  troops  dodged  through  the  press  as  they 
best  could,  pistoling,  sabring,  and  taking  prisoners.  A 
private  of  the  Fifth  New  York  cavalry,  riding  up  to  a 
wagon,  ordered  the  five  rebels  who  were  in  it  to  surren- 
der ;  and  when  they  only  lashed  their  horses  into  a  wilder 
gallop  he  shot  two  with  his  revolver  and  brought  in  the 
three  others.  The  usually  gallant  and  elastic  Southern 
infantry  was  so  stupefied  by  fatigue  and  cowed  by  defeat 
that  it  seemed  like  a  flock  of  animals,  actually  taking  no 
notice  of  mounted  men  and  officers  from  our  army  who 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  291 

wandered  into  the  wide  confusion  of  its  retreat.  Lieu- 
tenant Gray,  Company  D,  First  Rhode  Island  artillery, 
galloped  up  to  a  retreating  battery  and  ordered  it  to  face 
about.  *  I  was  told  to  go  to  the  rear  as  rapidly  as  possi- 
ble,' remonstrated  the  sergeant  in  command.  i  You  don't 
seem  to  know  who  I  am/  answered  Gray.  '  I  am  one 

of  those  "  d d  Yanks."  Countermarch  immediately  ! ' 

The  battery  was  countermarched,  and  Gray  was  leading 
it  off  alone,  when  a  squadron  of  our  cavalry  came  up  and 
made  the  capture  a  certainty. 

"  The  victory  was  pushed,  as  Sheridan  has  pushed 
all  his  victories,  to  the  utmost  possible  limit  of  success, 
the  cavalry  halting  that  night  at  Fisher's  Hill,  but  starts 
ing  again  at  dawn  and  continuing  the  chase  to  Woodstock, 
sixteen  miles  from  Middletown. 

"  It  was  a  gay  evening  at  our  headquarters,  although 
we  were  worn-out  with  fatigue,  and  as  chilled,  starved, 
and  shelterless  as  the  soldiers,  our  tents,  baggage,  rations, 
and  cooks  having  all  gone  to  Winchester.  Notwith- 
standing these  discomforts,  notwithstanding  the  thought 
of  slain  and  wounded  comrades,  it  was  delightful  to  talk 
the  whole  day  over,  even  of  our  defeat  of  the  morning, 
because  we  could  say,  '  All's  well  that  ends  well.'  It 
was  laughable  to  think  of  the  fugitives  who  had  fled  be- 
yond the  hearing  of  our  victory,  and  who  were  now  on 
their  way  to  Martinsburg,  spreading  the  news  that  Sheri- 
dan's army  had  been  totally  defeated,  and  they  (of  course) 


292  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN. 

were  the  only  survivors.  Then  every  half  hour  or  sc 
somebody  galloped  in  from  the  advance  with  such  a  tale 
of  continuing  success  that  we  could  hardly  grant  our  cre- 
dence to  it  before  a  fresh  messenger  arrived,  not  so  much 
to  confirm  the  story  as  to  exaggerate  it. 

"  It  was  '  Hurrah  !  twenty  cannon  taken  at  Strasburg. 
That  makes  twenty-six  so  far.' 

"  '  Glorious  ! — Don't  believe  it. — Isn't  it  splendid  !— 
Impossible ! — All  our  own  back  again/  answered  the 
contradictory  chorus. 

"  Then  came  another  plunge  of  hoofs  reining  up  with 
another  '  Hurrah  !  forty-six  guns  !  More  wagons  and 
ambulances  than  you  can  count.' 

The  spoils  of  victory  were  remarkable — seldom,  if 
ever  equalled  in  amount,  when  the  magnitude  of  the 
struggle  was  not  vastly  large.  Two  days  later,  ranged 
around  General  Sheridan's  headquarters  were  forty-nine 
pieces  of  artillery,  twenty-four  of  them  our  own,  which 
had  been  lost  and  recaptured ;  more  than  a  hundred 
wagons  and  ambulances,  some  of  them  marked  "  Stone- 
wall Brigade ; "  sixteen  hundred  small  arms  in  stacks ; 
fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  with  several  of  their  battle- 
flags,  never  more  to  wave  over  them  in  the  war  of  trea- 
son. Not  less  than  two  thousand  killed  and  wounded 
had  been  left  on  the  field.  On  our  side,  Gen.  Crook  had 
lost  one  hundied  killed  and  wounded,  and  seven  hundred 
prisoners ;  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  sixteen  hundred  killed 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  293 

and  wounded,  and  one  hundred  prisoners ;  the  Sixth 
Corps,  thirteen  hundred  killed  and  wounded  ;  making  the 
entire  loss  nearly  four  thousand. 

The  feature  of  the  victory  which  will  forever  give  it 
a  solitary  preeminence  and  grandeur,  was  the  retrieving  of 
the  battle — wringing  from  the  hands  of  an  enemy  flushed 
with  conquest  the  lost  fortunes  of  the  day  on  the  same 
field,  and  with  the  same  army,  without  reinforcements. 

At  Shiloh  the  unyielding  Grant  had  Buell's  twenty 
thousand  men  added  to  his  well-nigh  defeated  battalions, 
with  whom  to  save  the  bloody  field.  At  Marengo,  Na- 
poleon turned  disaster  into  victory — one  of  the  few  in- 
stances in  the  history  of  war  of  such  martial  glory ;  and 
a  glance  at  the  battle  will  reveal  the  contrast  in  Sheridan's 
favor.  General  Ott,  by  his  delay  at  Genoa,  gave  Na- 
poleon the  advantage  of  rapid  advance.  Melas,  perplexed 
with  the  movements  of  the  Consul,  while  Suchet  de- 
manded attention  for  a  time,  accomplished  nothing.  But 
the  Austrian  commander  at  length  saw  his  peril,  and 
moved  on  toward  Marengo  ;  General  Ott  was  also  in 
motion.  Napoleon,  who  had  not  heard  of  the  fall  of 
Genoa,  was  contemplating  its  relief  as  a  surprise  to 
Melas,  when,  on  the  9th  of  June,  Lannes,  who  had 
advanced  to  Montebello,  suddenly  came  on  the  Austrian 
army.  At  eleven  o'clock  the  battle  opened.  The  Aus- 
trians  from  the  surrounding  slopes  swept  the  plain  with 
their  batteries.  The  field  of  carnage  was  a  waving  har- 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

vest«  field  of  tall  rye,  which  so  concealed  the  opposing 
battalions,  that  often  before  they  knew  their  proximity 
the  hostile  bayonets  met.  Lannes  fought  like  a  demon, 
piled  around  with  dead,  and  breasting  the  tide  of  battle, 
till  Victor's  division  could  arrive.  It  came,  and  the  con- 
flict raged  afresh.  Lannes  said  of  this  horrid  slaughter 
beneath  the  amphitheatre  of  batteries,  " I  could  hear  the 
hones  crash  in  my  division  like  glass  in  a  hailstorm" 

At  nightfall  the  roar  of  combat  died  away,  and  five 
thousand  prisoners  were  in  the  hands  of  the  French,  and 
the  bloody  field  was  won.  When  Napoleon  rode  up,  he 
contemplated  proudly  the  blackened  hero  amid  the  ghastly 
forms  of  the  slain,  and  immediately  gave  him  the  title  of 
Duke  of  Montebello,  in  honor  of  his  bravery.  The  vic- 
tory fanned  the  enthusiasm  of  the  French,  and  roused 
the  desperate  courage  of  the  Austrians.  The  daring 
Dessaix.  who  followed  Napoleon  from  Egypt  a  few 
months  later,  found  upon  landing  the  Consul's  request  to 
join  him  in  the  new  campaign.  He  is  said  to  have  re- 
marked of  his  beloved  commander,  "  He  has  gained  all, 
and  yet  he  is  not  satisfied."  He  hastened  toward  the 
scene  of  action,  to  fight  under  the  banner  which  had 
streamed  in  the  smoke  of  battle  beneath  the  shadow  of 
the  pyramids.  Napoleon  moved  onward  to  the  village 
of  Marengo,  and  finding  no  traces  of  the  enemy,  sent 
Dessaix  to  watc'  the  road  toward  Genoa,  and  Murat 
toward  Scrivia.  On  the  14th,  Melas,  with  forty  thou 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  295 

sand  men,  entered  the  plain  of  Marengo,  before  the  dawn 
kindled  on. his  forest  of  burnished  bayonets.  Napoleon 
had  twenty  thousand  troops  ;  Dessaix,  with  six  thousand 
more,  was  thirty  miles  from  Marengo.  When  the  con- 
flict began,  he  caught  the  sound  of  the  heavy  cannonade 
coming  like  the  roar  of  thunder  to  his  ear,  and,  springing 
to  his  steed,  hurried  his  division  forward.  Napoleon 
sent  successive  couriers  to  urge  the  rushing  ranks,  OD 
whose  timely  aid  hung  the  fortunes  of  the  terrible  day. 
The  tempest  of  fire  was  too  wasting  to  be  resisted.  The 
battalions  began  to  reel,  fall  back,  and  retreat.  While 
Napoleon,  with  his  falling  columns  slowly  yielded  to  the 
living  masses  of  exulting  Austrians,  Melas,  confident  of 
victo^v,  retired  to  his  tent,  and  prepared  for  swift  messen- 
gers the  tidings  of  the  grand  event.  At  this  critical  mo- 
ment Napoleon's  restless  eye  caught  the  outline  of  Des- 
saix's  division  sweeping  into  the  field.  The  brave  com- 
mander dashed  onward  to  salute  the  First  Consul ;  and 
beholding  the  flight  on  every  hand,  exclaimed,  u  I  see 
the  battle  is  lost."  Napoleon  replied,  "  The  battle  I 
trust  is  gained.  Charge  with  your  columns.  The  dis- 
ordered troops  will  rally  in  your  rear."  Dessaix  turned 
and  met  the  tide  of  fiery  devastation  as  a  wall  of  granite 
meets  the  angry  billows. 

The  day  declined,  and  the  last  smile  of  the  sun,  after 
the  twelve  hours'  carnage,  on  whose  beginning  it  rose, 
flashed  over  twenty  thousand  men,  mangled  and  bleed 


296  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

ing ;    the  dead  and  dying  in  hideous  chaos  among  the 
pools  of  yet  warm  blood. 

Such  was  the  turn  of  the  battle-tide  at  Marengo.  The 
routed  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  to  recover  the  abandoned 
field,  with  its  camps,  intrenchments,  and  cannon,  needed 
one  man — SHERIDAN  !  The  two  elements  of  character 
which  won  the  glory,  were  decision,  whicL  had  the  very  air 
of  conquest,  and  the  most  unwavering  promptitude  in  as- 
suming the  aggressive.  And  yet  it  is  wonderful  that  a  com- 
mander, almost  a  stranger  among  his  troops,  should  have 
such  control  over  them — bringing  order  out  of  chaos,  and 
hurling  back  the  retreating  columns  with  resistless  courage 
and  enthusiasm  upon  the  exultant  foe,  at  his  leisure  rifling 
our  camps.  Soon  as  the  inspiring  presence  of  General 
Sheridan  had  reformed  the  columns  by  his  cheering,  en- 
couraging words  and  tone,  finding  that  the  rebels  gave  no 
sign  of  pursuit,  he  ordered  the  advance.  Those  who  beheld 
the  scene  declare  that  it  has  no  parallel  in  the  display  of 
nervous,  martial  command.  "  Little  Phil "  went  over 
the  plain  of  his  broken  lines  like  the  incarnation  of  valor, 
riding  from  one  reorganizing  division  to  another,  gesticu- 
lating, storming,  animating,  and  hurling  anathemas  by 
turns,  according  to  the  condition  of  the  troops.  Around 
the  hero  the  battle-front  glittered  and  waved  its  banners 
again,  as  if  by  miracle  it  had  emerged  from  the  wild  dis- 
cord of  the  hour. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Stirring  Official  Record  of  the  Great  Battle— General  Custar  to  his  Troop*— 
The  National  Joy  and  Congratulations— Early's  Chagrin— The  President1! 
Call  to  Grateful  Praise. 

BRIEF  and  official  record  of  the  hard-fought 
battle,  and  the  intense  interest  of  the  nation 
in  the  brilliant  achievements  of  Sheridan,  is 
given  in  the  telegrams  which  went  flashing 
over  the  land  : 

"WAR  DEP'T,  WASHINGTON,  Thursday,  Oct.  20—10:45  A.  M. 
"  Major- General  Dix  : 

"  Another  great  battle  was  fought  yesterday  at  Cedar 

Creek,  threatening  at  first  a  great  disaster,  but  finally  re- 
sulting in  a  victory  for  the  Union  forces  under  General 
Sheridan,  more  splendid  than  any  heretofore  achieved. 
The  Department  was  advised  yesterday  evening  of  the 
commencement  of  the  battle  by  the  following  telegrams  : 

"  '  RECTORTOWN,  VA.,  Wednesday,  Oct.  19 — 4  p.  M. 
"' Major- General  H.  W.  Halleck,  Chief  of  Staff: 

"  '  Heavy  cannonading  has  recommenced  in  the  val- 
ley, and  is  now  going  on. 

"  «  C.  C.  AUGUR,  Major-General.' 


298  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  *  HARPER'S  FERRY,  VA.,  Wednesday,  Oct.  19 — 6:40  p.  it 
" '  Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War : 

"  4  Firing  at  the  front  has  been  continuous  during  the 
day.     The  direction  seemed  at  intervals  to  be  to  the  left 
of  Winchester,  as  if  at  Berry's  Ferry. 
"  '  No  news  from  the  front. 

"  '  JOHN  D.  STEVENSON,  Brig.-Gen.' 

"  '  HARPER'S  FERRY,  VA.,  Wednesday,  Oct  19 — 8:45  P.  M. 
" '  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War : 

"  '  The  enemy  attacked  our  army  with  great  impetu- 
osity this  morning  at  daylight. 

"  '  The  attack  was  made  on  the  left  of  the  Eighth 
Corps,  and  was  at  first  successful,  they  capturing  some 
guns,  prisoners,  and  wagons.  Our  line  was  reformed, 
and  heavy  fighting  continued  through  the  day. 

"  '  Sheridan  was  reported  at  Winchester  this  morning, 
and  went  to  the  front. 

"  '  The  particulars  received  are  not  official,  and  are 
not  favorable,  though  no  serious  disaster  could  have  oc- 
curred without  direct  news  from  Sheridan. 
"  «  Kespectfully, 

"  '  JOHN  D.  STEVENSON,  Brig.-Gen/ 

"  Matters  remain  in  the  doubtful  state  represented  by 
the  foregoing  telegrams  until  this  morning,  at  9:30,  when 
the  following  telegram  was  received,  unofficially,  report- 
ing the  great  victory  won  by  Sheridan's  army : 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEBIDAN.  299 

"  'HARPER'S  FKRRY,  VA.,  Thursday,  Oct.  20,  9:30  A.  M. 

u  *  News  from  Sheridan's  headquarters  at  midnight  is 
to  the  effect  that  the  enemy  surprised  our  forces  yesterday 
morning,  driving  the  command  in  some  confusion  this 
side  of  New  town,  capturing  artillery  and  prisoners. 

"  '  Sheridan  arrived  in  the  field,  reorganized  our  forces, 
drove  the  enemy  beyond  Strasburg,  capturing,  it  is  re- 
ported, forty-three  pieces  of  artillery,  one  hundred  wagons 
and  ambulances,  and  some  two  thousand  prisoners.  The 
rout  of  the  enemy  is  said  to  ba  complete.  This  is  not 
official,  but  I  think  reliable. 

"  '  J.  D.  STEVENSON,  Brigadier-General/ 

"  A  few  minutes  later  the  following  official  report  of 
his  victory  was  received  from  Major-General  Sheridan : 

"  '  CEDAR  CREEK,  Wednesday,  Oct.  19,  10  p.  M. 
"  '  To  Lieutenant- General  Grant,  City  Point; 

"  c  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  my  army  at  Cedar 
Creek  was  attacked  this  morning  before  daylight,  and  my 
left  was  turned  and  driven  in  confusion.  In  fact  most  of 
the  line  was  driven  in  confusion,  with  the  loss  of  twenty 
pieces  of  artillery. 

"  '  I  hastened  from  Winchester,  where  I  was,  on  my 
return  from  Washington,  and  found  the  armies  between 
Middletown  and  Newtown,  having  been  driven  back  about 
four  miles.  I  here  took  the  affair  in  hand,  and  quickly 
united  the  corps,  formed  a  compact  line  of  battle  just  in 


300  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

time  to  repulse  an  attack  of  the  enemy,  which  was  hand* 
somely  done  at  about  1  p.  M. 

" '  At  3  P.  M.,  after  some  changes  of  the  cavalry  from 
the  left  to  the  right  flank,  I  attacked  with  great  vigor, 
driving  and  routing  the  enemy,  capturing,  according  to 
the  last  report,  forty-three  pieces  of  artillery  and  very 
many  prisoners.  1  do  not  know  yet  the  number  of  my 
casualties  or  the  losses  of  the  enemy. 

"  '  Wagons,  trains,  ambulances,  and  caissons  in  large 
numbers  are  in  our  possession.  They  also  burned  some 
of  their  trains.  General  Ramseur  is  a  prisoner  in  our 
hands,  severely  and  perhaps  mortally  wounded. 

"  c  I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  General  Bid  well  killed, 
and  Generals  Wright,  Grover,  and  Rickets  wounded. 
Wright  is  slightly  wounded.  Affairs  at  times  looked 
badly,  but  by  the  gallantry  of  our  brave  officers  and 
men  disaster  has  been  converted  into  a  splendid  victory 
Darkness  again  intervened  to  shut  off  greater  results.  I 
now  occupy  Strasburg. 

"  '  As  soon  as  obtained,  I  will  send  you  further  partic- 
ulars. P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General.' 

"  The  battle  was  fought  on  the  same  day,  19th  of  the 
month,  that  witnessed  Sheridan's  victory  in  September. 

"  What  the  numbers  were  opposed  to  General  Sheri- 
dan are  not  yet  reported  to  the  Department,  but  the  bold- 
ness, vigor,  and  success  of  the  attack  strongly  indicate  that 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  301 

a  heavy  reenforcement  had  been  sent  from  Richmond, 
with  the  expectation  of  fulfilling  Longstreet's  boast  to 
smash  up  Sheridan. 

"  Longstreet  was  known  to  be  in  the  valley,  and  had 
assumed  command  of  the  rebel  army,  and  confident  hopes 
of  an  overwhelming  disaster  to  the  Union  army  were 
boastfully  expressed  for  several  days  back  by  the  rebel 
adherents  in  Washington  and  Baltimore. 

"  EDWIN  M.  ST ANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  ) 
Friday,  October  21,  11:40  A.  M.          \ 
"  Major- General  Dix  ; 

"  The  following  telegram,  received  this  morning,  con- 
tains further  particulars  of  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek : 

'"CEDAR  CREEK,  VA.,  11:30  A.  M.,  Thursday,  Oct.  20. 
1 1 '  Lieutenant-  General  U,  8.  Grant,  City  Point ; 

"  '  We  have  again  been  favored  by  a  great  victory, 
won  from  disaster,  by  the  gallantry  of  our  officers  and 
men.  The  attack  on  the  enemy  was  made  about  3  p.  M., 
by  a  left  half  wheel  of  the  whole  line  with  a  division  of 
cavalry  turning  each  flank  of  the  enemy,  the  whole  line 
advancing.  The  enemy,  after  a  stubborn  resistance,  broke 
and  fled,  and  were  pushed  with  vigor.  The  artillery  cap- 
tured will  probably  be  over  fifty  pieces.  This  of  course 
includes  what  were  captured  from  our  troops  in  the  early 
morning.  At  least  sixteen  hundred  prisoners  have  been 
brought  in  ;  also  wagons  and  ambulances  in  large  num 


302  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

bers.  This  morning  the  cavalry  made  a  dash  at  Fisher's 
Hill  and  carried  it,  the  enemy  having  fled  during  the 
night,  leaving  only  a  small  rear-guard.  I  have  to  regret 
the  loss  of  many  valuable  officers  killed  and  wounded, 
among  them  Colonel  Joseph  Thorburn,  commanding  a 
division  of  Crook's  command,  killed  ;  Colonel  J.  Howard 
Kitchen,  commanding  a  brigade,  wounded  ;  Colonel  R.  G. 
McKinzie,  commanding  a  brigade,  wounded  severely,  but 
would  not  leave  the  field.  I  cannot  yet  give  details. 

"  *  Many  of  our  men  captured  in  the  morning  have 
made  their  escape  and  are  coming  in. 

"  l  Ramseur,  commanding  a  division  in  Early's  army, 
died  this  morning. 

"  *  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General  Commanding. 

"  General  Grant's  appreciation  of  the  victory  at  Cedai 
Creek  is  expressed  in  the  following  despatch : 

"  '  CITY  POINT,  Thursday,  Oct.  20,  8  p.  M. 
" '  Hon.  Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  ; 

"  *  I  had  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns  from  each  of 
the  armies  here  fired  in  honor  of  Sheridan's  last  victory 
Turning  what  bid  fair  to  be  disaster  into  a  glorious  vic- 
tory, stamps  Sheridan  what  I  always  thought  him,  one 
of  the  ablest  of  generals. 

"  4U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General.' 

44  The  Medical  Director  reports  that  seven  hundred 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEBIDAN.  303 

and  seventy  slightly  wounded  have  reached  Winchester 
from  the  field.    . 

"  All  the  wounded  that  are  able  to  bear  transporta- 
tion will  be  forwarded  immediately  to  Martinsburg. 

"  The  telegraph  line  is  now  working  to  Atlanta,  but 
no  late  reports  have  been  received  by  the  Department. 
"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

"  '  CEDAR  CREEK,  VA.,  Friday,  Oct.  21,  1864,  4  p.  M. 
111  Lieutenant-  General  U.  S.  Grant,  City  Point,  Va.  : 

"  4 1  pursued  the  routed  force  of  the  enemy  nearly  to 
Mount  Jackson,  which  point  he  reached  during  the  night 
of  the  19th  and  20th,  without  an  organized  regiment  of 
his  army.  From  the  accounts  of  our  prisoners  who  have 
escaped,  and  citizens,  the  rout  was  complete.  About  two 
thousand  of  the  enemy  broke  and  made  their  way  down 
through  the  mountains  on  the  left. 

"  4  Fourteen  miles  on  the  line  of  retreat  the  road  and 
country  were  covered  with  small  arms  thrown  away  by 
the  flying  rebels,  and  other  debris.  Forty-eight  pieces  of 
captured  artillery  are  now  at  my  headquarters.  I  think 
that  no  less  than  three  hundred  wagons  and  ambulances 
were  either  captured  or  destroyed.  The  accident  of  the 
morning  turned  to  our  advantage  as  much  as  thougli  the 
whole  movement  had  been  planned.  The  only  regret  I 
have  is  the  capture  in  early  morning  of  from  eight  hun- 
dred to  one  thousand  men. 

"  ;  I  am  now  sending  to  the  War  Department  ten  bat- 


304  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

tie-flags.  The  loss  of  artillery  in  the  morning  was  seven 
from  Crook,  eleven  from  Emory,  six  from  Wright.  From 
all  that  I  can  learn,  I  think  that  Early's  reinforcements 
were  not  less  than  sixteen  thousand  men. 

"  c  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General/ 

"  General  Stevenson  reports  the  arrival  at  Martins- 
burg  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  wounded  and  one 
thousand  five  hundred  prisoners.  General  Custar  arrived 
this  afternoon  at  Washington,  with  ten  battle-flags  dis- 
played from  the  railroad  engines. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

Next  to  General  Sheridan  in  dash  and  daring  ranks 
General  Custar,  who  succeeded  Averill.  A  splendid 
cavalry  officer  and  a  noble  man,  he  is  admired  by  his 
soldiers  and  fellow-citizens  at  home. 

The  deeds  of  "  Cavalry  Sheridan"  thrilled  the  popular 
heart  afresh,  and  placed  the  victor's  name  next  to  that  of 
the  Lieutenant-General  in  the  great  arena  of  strife  directly 
under  his  control.  The  President  sent  his  letter  of  con- 
gratulation to  General  Sheridan ;  and  Nov.  14th,  upon 
General  McClellan's  resignation  of  his  command,  the  hero 
of  the  Shenandoah  valley  succeeded  him  to  the  major- 
generalship  in  the  regular  army,  the  appointment  dating 
from  the  8th  of  the  same  month.  This  was  a  high  and 
substantial  compliment  to  heroism  and  ability,  whose  last 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  305 

and  unrivalled  work  was  the  triumph  with  a  routed  army 
on  the  18th  of  October. 

General  Early' s  chagrin  over  his  defeat  was  betrayed 
in  an  order  to  his  troops,  in  which  he  bitterly  reproaches 
them  for  their  "  misconduct." 

In  view  of  all  these  tokens  of  Divine  favor  upon  our 
arms,  our  Christian  President  issued  the  following  call, 
and  the  first  since  the  war  opened,  to  national  praise  for 
Jehovah's  blessing  upon  the  national  cause : 

"  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  prolong  our  national 
life  another  year,  defending  us  with  His  guardian  care 
against  unfriendly  designs  from  abroad,  and  vouchsafing 
to  us  in  His  mercy  many  and  signal  victories  over  the 
enemy,  who  is  of  our  own  household.  It  has  also  pleased 
our  Heavenly  Father  to  favor  as  well  our  citizens  in  their 
homes  as  our  soldiers  in  their  camps,  and  our  sailors  on 
the  rivers  and  seas,  with  unusual  health.  He  has  largely 
augmented  our  free  population  by  emancipation  and  by 
immigration,  while  He  has  opened  to  us  new  sources  of 
wealth,  and  has  crowned  the  labor  of  our  workingmen 
in  every  department  of  industry  with  abundant  rewards. 
Moreover  He  has  been  pleased  to  animate  and  inspire  our 
minds  and  hearts  with  fortitude,  courage,  and  resolution 
sufficient  for  the  great  trial  of  civil  war  into  which  we 
have  been  brought  by  our  adherence  as  a  nation  to  the 
cause  of  freedom  and  humanity,  and  to  afford  to  us 


306  •LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

reasonable  hopes  of  an  ultimate  and  happy  deliverance 
from  all  our  dangers  and  afflictions. 

"  Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of 
the  United  States,  do  hereby  appoint  and  set  apart  the 
last  Thursday  of  November  next  as  a  day  which  I  desire 
to  be  observed  by  all  my  fellow-citizens,  wherever  they 
may  be,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  Almighty 
God,  the  beneficent  Creator  and  Ruler  of  the  universe. 
And  I  do  further  recommend  to  my  fellow-citizens  afore- 
said, that  on  that  occasion  they  do  reverently  humble 
themselves  in  the  dust,  and  from  thence  offer  up  penitent 
and  fervent  prayers  and  supplications  to  the  Great  Dis- 
poser of  events  for  a  return  of  the  inestimable  blessings 
of  peace,  union,  and  harmony,  throughout  the  land  which 
it  has  pleased  Him  to  assign  as  a  dwelling-place  for  our- 
selves and  for  our  posterity  throughout  all  generations. 

"  In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  twentieth  day 
of  October,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-four,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 

United  States  the  eighty-ninth. 

"  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
"  By  the  President : 

"  WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State." 


CHAPTER  XVI 


flie  "Weeks  of  Skirmishing— General  Early's  Movements— Guerr*-^-* 
Sheridan's  Advance— A  Series  of  Successes— Another  Track  or  vesoiation 


)HE  remaining  weeks  of  the  year  '864  were 
spent  by  the  armies  in  the  Shenan^oah  valley 
in  watching  each  other  and  skirmii/uing.  Tor- 
bert's  cavalry  had  encounters  with  (he  troops  of 
Rosser  andTLomax,  sometimes  of  s«?  ~erity,  which, 
on  a  smaller  field  of  arms  than  our  Republi ,-,  would  have 
been  called  battles.  But  we  soon  learned  to  regard  as 
unworthy  that  distinction  any  thing  less  tl  in  the  meeting 
in  deadly  conflict  several  thousands  of  the  half  million  of 
troops,  and  the  slaughter  of  hundreds  at  ]  .ast  of  the  com 
batants. 

General  Early  moved  "  uneasily  up  and  down  the 
valley,"  seeking  reprisals,  an  assailable  r  .int  in  the  Union 
lines,  or  rest,  and  finding  neither.  His  j  s-imenade-ground 
extended  from  New  Market,  situated  >  *nile  east  of  the 
north  fork  of  the  Shenancloah,  near  the  southwest  border 


308  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

of  the  county  which  bears  the  name  of  the  stream,  and 
Fisher's  Hill.  He  did  not  venture  near  enough  to  the 
ever-ready  "  Phil "  to  turn  the  trooper's  steed  toward  his 
depleted  force.  And  then  poor  Lee,  held  by  the  inflex- 
ible Grant,  and  chafing  in  the  grasp,  must  have  all  the 
available  aid,  and  called  for  a  portion  of  Early 's  troops 
in  December. 

Meanwhile  tidings  came  to  Sheridan  that  the  guer- 
rillas were  infesting  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  their  bullets  flying  wherever  a  Unionist  showed 
himself — the  unpitied  target  of  the  murderous  bandits. 
The  indignant  chieftain  decided  to  burn  out  the  beasts  of 
prey,  as  he  had  done  before.  So  he  summoned  his 
troopers  to  the  work ;  and  dashing  away  to  the  fearful 
duty  of  retribution,  you  might  have  followed  them  afar 
off  by  the  columns  of  smoke  by  day,  under  which  at 
night  blazed  a  hundred  fires  of  wrath  upon  the  skulking 
homicides  of  treason. 

Two  expeditions  resulted  in  the  destruction  or  capture 
of  property  valued  at  more  than  $7,000,000.  The  droves 
of  cattle,  horses,  mules,  sheep,  and  swine,  were  almost 
endless,  and  seemed  so  when  they  moved  along  the  forest 
paths.  The  guerrillas  fled  to  the  Upper  Potomac,  and 
other  points  more  or  less  remote. 

During  the  last  month  of  the  year  the  Sixth  Corps 
was  sent  back  to  reeuforce  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Until  late  in  February,  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah  had 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  309 

but  little  fighting  to  do,  but  rested  and  kept  a  vigilant  eye 
on  the  movements  of  the  adversary.  At  this  moment  the 
war  was  reaching  a  decisive  crisis.  General  Sherman 
was  marching  triumphantly  through  the  Carolinas. 
Truly  "  Sherman,  Schofield,  and  Sheridan  seemed  to  be 
the  three  S's  of  the  hour." 

A  week  later  it  was  recorded :  "  The  rapid  and  bril- 
liant cavalry  march  of  Sheridan  up  the  Shenandoah  val- 
ley toward  Lynchburg,  and  the  victory  reported  as 
already  gained  over  Early,  is  the  great  event  of  the  we.ek 
in  Virginia.  On  Monday,  the  27th  of  February,  Sheri- 
dan's column  commenced  its  march  from  the  camp  near 
Winchester.  General  Hancock  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  Middle  Military  Division  during  the  absence  of  Gen- 
eral Sheridan,  with  headquarters  at  Winchester.  During 
the  first  twenty-four  hours  Sheridan  probably  marched 
to  Woodstock,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  Keeping 
straight  up  the  valley,  he  probably  reached  Waynesboro 
on  Thursday.  There,  according  to  all  accounts,  Early 
first  offered  effective  resistance.  A  battle  took  place  at 
or  near  Waynesboro,  and  it  resulted,  as  we  are  told,  in 
an  entire  victory  for  Sheridan,  who  is  said  to  have  cap- 
tured 1,300  prisoners,  eight  cannon,  and  about  one  hun- 
dred wagons.  If  these  details  be  true,  it  is  a  most 
decided  triumph,  as  the  force  of  Early  was  small  at  best, 
and  could  not  bear  such  reduction.  Waynesboro  is  on 
the  Central  Railroad,  at  the  west  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 


310  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

about  fifteen  miles  from  Staunton,  and  twenty-five  from 
Charlottesville." 

Later  camo  the  despatch  of  the  master-spirit  of  the 
manifold  and  victorious  operations  in  the  valley  of  the 
Shenandoah,  telling  the  story  of  conquest — "  Sheridan's 
own,"  as  was  sometimes  said  of  his  words  of  glad 
tidings : 

"CITY  POINT,  March  12,  1865.— 7  P.  M. 
"Hon.  K  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War  ; 

"  The  following  despatch  is  just  received. 

"  U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

"  HEADQUARTERS  MIDDLE  MILITARY  DIVISION,  ) 
COLUMBIA,  VA.,  Friday,  March  10,  1865.  J 

"  Lieut.-Cren.  U.  S.  Grant,  Commanding  Armies  of  tTie  United  States  ; 
"  GENERAL  : — In   my  despatch,  dated   Waynesboro, 

1  gave  you  a  brief  account  of  the  defeat  of  Early  by  Cus- 
tar's  Division.     The  same  night  this  division  was  pushed 
across  the   Blue  Ridge,   and  entered   Charlottesville  at 

2  P.  M.  the  next  day.     The  mayor  of  the  city  and  the 
principal  inhabitants  came  out  and  delivered  up  the  keys 
of  the  public  buildings. 

"  I  had  to  remain  at  Charlottesville  two  days.  This 
time  was  consumed  in  bringing  over  from  Waynesboro 
our  ammunition  and  pontoon  trains.  The  weather  was 
horrible  beyond  description,  and  the  rain  incessant.  The 
two  divisions  were  during  this  time  occupied  in  destroy- 
ing the  two  large  iron  bridges,  one  over  the  Rivanna 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  311 

River,  the  other  over  Morse's  Creek,  near  Charlottes ville, 
and  the  railroad  for  a  distance  of  eight  miles  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Lynchburg. 

"On  the  6th  of  March  I  sent  the  First  Division, 
General  Devens  commanding,  to  Scottsville,  on  the  James 
River,  with  directions  to  send  out  light  parties  through 
the  country  and  destroy  all  merchandise,  mills,  factories, 
bridges,  etc.,  on  the  Rivanna  River,  the  parties  to  join 
the  division  at  Scottsville.  The  division  then  proceeded 
along  the  canal  to  Duguidsville,  fifteen  miles  from  Lynch- 
burg, destroying  every  lock,  and  in  many  places  the  bank 
of  the  canal.  At  Duguidsville  we  hoped  to  secure  the 
bridge  to  let  us  cross  the  river,  as  our  pontoons  were  use- 
less rm  account  of  the  high  water.  In  this,  however,  we 
were  foiled,  as  both  this  bridge  and  the  bridge  at  Hard- 
wicksville  were  burned  by  the  enemy  upon  our  approach. 
Merritt  accompanied  this  division. 

"  The  Third  Division  started  at  the  same  time  from 
Charlottesville,  and  proceeded  down  the  Lynchburg  Rail- 
road to  Amherst  Court  House,  destroying  every  bridge  on 
the  road,  and  in  many  places  miles  of  the  road.  The 
bridges  on  this  road  are  numerous,  and  some  of  them  five 
hundred  feet  in  length. 

"  We  have  fouud  great  abundance  in  this  country  for 
our  men  and  animals ;  in  fact,  the  canal  had  been  the 
great  feeder  of  Richmond.  At  the  Rockfish  River,  the 
bank  of  the  canal  was  cut,  and  at  New  Canton,  where 


312  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

the  dam  is  across  the  James,  the  guard-lock  was  de- 
stroyed, and  the  James  River  let  into  the  canal,  carrying 
away  the  banks,  and  washing  out  the  bottom  of  the  canal. 
The  dam  across  the  James  at  this  point  was  also  partially 
destroyed. 

"  I  have  had  no  opposition.  Everybody  is  bewil- 
dered by  our  movements.  I  have  had  no  news  of  any 
kind  since  I  left.  The  latest  Richmond  paper  was  of  the 
4th,  but  contained  nothing. 

"  I  omitted  to  mention  that  the  bridges  on  the  rail- 
road from  Swoop's  depot,  on  the  other  side  of  Staunton, 
to  Charlottesville,  were  utterly  destroyed ;  also,  all 
bridges  for  a  distance  of  ten  miles  on  the  Gordonsville 
Railroad. 

"  The  weather  has  been  very  bad  indeed,  raining 
hard  every  day,  with  the  exception  of  four  days,  since  we 
started.  My  wagons  have,  from  the  state  of  the  roads, 
detained  me. 

"  Up  to  the  present  time  we  have  captured  fourteen 
pieces  of  artillery,  eleven  at  Waynesboro  and  three  at 
Charlottesville.  The  party  that  I  sent  back  from  Waynes- 
boro started  with  six  pieces,  but  they  were  obliged  to 
destroy  two  of  the  six  for  want  of  animals.  The  remain- 
ing eight  pieces  were  thoroughly  destroyed. 

"We  have  captured  twelve  canal  boats,  laden  with 
supplies,  ammunition,  rations,  medical  stores,  etc. 

"  I  cannot  speak  in  too  high  terms  of  Generals  Mer 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN.  313 

ritt,  Custar,  and  Devens,  and  the  officers  and  men  of  their 
commands.  They  have  waded  through  mud  aud  water 
during  this  continuous  rain,  and  are  all  in  fine  spirits  and 
health. 

"  Commodore  Hollins,  of  the  rebel  navy,  was  shot 
Dear  Gordonsville  while  attempting  to  make  his  escape 
from  our  advance  in  that  direction. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-Gen.  Commanding." 

When  General  Sheridan  wrote  the  despatch,  he  was 
on  the  banks  of  the  Pamunkey  River,  near  White  House. 
A  member  of  the  Lieutenant-General's  staff  said  of  him 
at  that  time,  that  he  u  had  lost  in  his  march  about  fifty 
men  and  two  officers,  all  told.  His  men  are  mounted-, 
excepting  about  two  hundred  and  fifty.  They  captured 
many  horses  and  mules,  and  shot  all  the  broken  down 
animals.  Nearly  two  hundred  negroes  came  in  with 
him.  Women  have  travelled  on  foot,  carrying  children 
two  years  old,  and  kept  up  with  his  cavalry  all  the  way 
from  Columbia.  At  Charlottesville  he  was  obliged  to 
station  a  rear-guard  to  prevent  the  negroes  following  him 
by  hundreds,  as  he  was  at  that  time  unable  to  feed  them, 
or  to  afford  the  slightest  protection.  He  advanced  to 
withk.  fifteen  miles  of  Lynchburg,  and  came  within 
twelve  of  Richmond.  Not  a  bridge  is  left  on  the  Jamea 
between  the  two  cities ;  and  not  a  railroad  bridge  be- 


314  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

tween  Staunton  and  Charlottesville.  His  destruction  of 
the  canal  is  thorough.  One  viaduct  could  not  be  rebuilt 
in  six  months  in  time  of  peace.  In  one  or  two  places  the 
river  was  turned  into  the  canal,  and  washed  it  out  fifteen 
feet  below  the  level." 

While  such  scenes  were  transpiring  on  the  southern 
theatre  of  war,  near  its  northern  border,  in  the  Capital 
of  the  bleeding  Union  what  different  scenes  were  wit- 
nessed !  The  Fourth  of  March !  It  came  peacefully 
there,  but  not  without  apprehensions.  The  beloved 
Abraham  Lincoln  once  more  stood  before  the  vast  as- 
semblage, and  took  the  solemn  oath  of  office. 


CHAPTER  XVH. 


General  Sheridan's  Story  of  the  Great  Campaign— His  Pen  as  unerring  as  hii 
Battle-blade— The  Surrender  of  General  Lee— National  Joy 


)ENERAL  Sheridan  has  given  to  the  country  his 
own  narrative  from  the  track  of  martial  con- 
quest, of  the  splendid  achievements  of  his  arms. 
It  is  clear  and  fascinating  in  its  glimpses — indi- 
cating the  power  to  wield  with  effect  the  pen,  as 
well  as  the  rein  and  sword.  Seldom  do  we  have  in  a 
General's  record  of  his  movements  so  plain,  and  yet  at- 
tractive history,  making  unusual  length  no  point  of  criti- 
cism, but  rather  one  of  merit : 

"  CAVALRY  HEADQUARTERS,  June  16. 

"  GENERAL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following 
narrative  of  the  operations  of  my  command  during  the 
recent  campaign  in  front  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond, 
terminating  with  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  army  of  North- 
ern Virginia  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Virginia,  OB 
April  9,  1865. 


316  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

"  On  March  26,  my  command,  consisting  of  the  First 
and  Third  cavalry  divisions,  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  Brevet  Major-General  Wesley  Merritt,  crossed 
the  James  River  by  the  bridge  at  Jones's  Landing,  having 
marched  from  Winchester,  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  via 
White  House,  on  the  Pamunkev  River.  On  March  27 
this  command  went  into  camp  at  Hancock  station,  on 
the  military  railroad  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and  on  the 
same  day  the  Second  cavalry  division,  which  had  been 
serving  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  reported  to  me 
under  the  command  of  Major-General  George  Crook. 
The  effective  force  of  these  divisions  was  as  follows : 
General  Merritt's  command,  First  and  Third  Divisions, 
*>,700 ;  General  Crook's  command,  Second  Division, 
5,300  :  total  effective  force,  9,000. 

a  With  this  force  I  moved  out  on  the  29th  of  March, 
in  conjunction  with  the  armies  operating  against  Rich- 
mond, and  in  the  subsequent  operations  I  was  under  the 
immediate  orders  of  the  Lieutenant-General  commanding. 
I  moved  by  way  of  Reams'  station,  on  the  Weldon  Rail- 
road, and  Malon's  crossing,  on  the  Rowanty  Creek, 
where  we  were  obliged  to  construct  a  bridge.  At  this 
point  our  advance  encountered  a  small  picket  of  the  rebel 
cavalry,  and  drove  it  to  the  left  across  Stony  Creek,  cap- 
turing a  few  prisoners,  from  whom,  and  from  my  scouts, 
I  learned  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  at  or  near  Stony 
Creek  depot,  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  on  our  left  flank 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  317 

and  rear.  Believing  that  it  would  not  attack  me,  and 
that  by  pushing  on  to  Dinwiddie  Court  House  I  could 
force  it  to  make  a  wide  detour,  we  continued  the  march, 
reaching  the  court  house  aboul  5  p.  M.,  encountering  only 
a  small  picket  of  the  enemy,  which  was  driven  away  by 
our  advance.  It  was  found  necessary  to  order  General 
Custar's  Division,  which  was  marching  in  rear,  to  remain 
near  Malon's  erossing,  on  the  Rowanty  Creek,  to  assist 
and  protect  our  trains,  which  were  greatly  retarded  by 
the  almost  impassable  roads  of  that  miry  section.  The 
First  and  Second  Divisions  went  into  camp,  covering  the 
Vaughan,  Flat  Foot,  Boydton  Plank,  and  Five  Forks  roads, 
which  all  intersect  at  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  rendering 
this  an  important  point,  and  from  which  I  was  expected 
to  make  a  cavalry  raid  on  the  Southside  Railroad,  and 
thence  join  General  Sherman,  or  return  to  Petersburg,  as 
circumstances  might  dictate.  However,  during  the  night 
the  Lieutenant-General  sent  me  instructions  to  abandon 
the  contemplated  raid  and  act  in  concert  with  the  infan- 
try under  his  immediate  command,  and  turn  the  right  flank 
of  Lee's  army  if  possible.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
the  30tL  of  March  I  directed  General  Merritt  to  send 
the  First  division,  Brigadier-General  Devens  commanding, 
to  gain  possession  of  the  Five  Forks,  on  White  Oak  road, 
and  directed  General  Crook  to  send  General  Davies' 
Brigade  of  his  division  to  the  support  of  General  Devens. 
Gregg's  Brigade,  of  Crook's  division,  was  held  on  the 


Ol8  LIFE   OF   GENEBAL    SHEEIDAN. 

Boydtown  plank  road,  and  guarded  the  crossing  of  Stony 
Creek,  forcing  the  enemy's  cavalry,  that  was  moving 
from  Stony  Creek  depot  to  form  a  connection  with  the 
right  of  their  army,  to  make  a  wide  detour,  as  I 
had  anticipated,  on  the  south  side  of  Stony  Creek,  and 
west  of  Chamberlain's  Bed — a  very  fatiguing  march,  in 
the  bad  condition  of  the  roads.  A  very  heavy  rain  fell 
during  this  day,  aggravating  the  swampy  nature  of  the 
ground,  and  rendering  the  movements  of  troops  almost 
impossible. 

"  General  Merritt's  reconnoissance  developed  the 
enemy  in  strong  force  on  the  White  Oak  road,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Five  Forks,  and  there  was  some  heavy 
skirmishing  throughout  the  day.  Next  morning,  March 
31,  General  JVIerritt  advanced  toward  the  Five  Forks 
with  the  First  Division,  and  meeting  with  considerable 
opposition,  General  Devens'  Brigade,  of  Crook's  Division, 
was  ordered  to  join  him,  while  General  Crook,  advancing 
on  the  left  with  two  other  brigades  of  his  division,  en- 
countered the  enemy  at  Chamberlain's  Creek,  at  a  point 
a  little  west  of  Dinwiddie,  making  demonstrations  to 
cross.  Smith's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  hold  them  in 
check,  and  Gregg's  Brigade  to  a  position  on  the  right. 

"  The  advance  of  the  First  Division  got  possession  of 
the  Five  Forks,  but  in  the  mean  time  the  Fifth  Army 
Corps,  which  had  advanced  toward  the  White  Oak  road 
from  the  Vaughan  road,  was  attacked  and  driven  back, 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  319 

and,  withdrawing  from  that  point,  this  force  of  the  enemy 
marched  rapidly  from  the  front  of  the  Fifth  Corps  to  the 
Five  Forks,  driving  in  our  cavalry  advance,  and  moving 
down  on  roads  west  of  Chamberlain's  Creek,  attacked 
General  Smith's  Brigade,  but  were  unable  to  force  his 
position.  Abandoning  the  attempt  to  cross  in  his  front, 
this  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry  succeeded  in  effecting  a 
crossing  higher  up  the  creek,  striking  General  Davies' 
brigade  of  the  Second  Division,  which,  after  a  gallant 
fight,  was  forced  back  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  First 
Division,  thus  partially  isolating  all  this  force  from  my 
main  line  covering  Dinwiddie  Court  House.  Orders 
were  at  once  given  to  General  Merritt  to  cross  this  de- 
tached force  over  to  the  Boydtown  Plank  Road,  and  march 
down  to  Dinwiddie  Court  House  and  come  into  the  line 
of  battle.  The  enemy,  deceived  by  this  movement,  fol- 
lowed it  up  rapidly,  making  a  left  wheel,  and  presenting 
his  rear  to  my  line  of  battle.  When  his  line  was  nearly 
parallel  to  mine,  General  Gibbs'  Brigade  of  the  First 
Division,  and  General  Irwin's  Brigade  of  the  Second  Divi- 
sion, were  ordered  to  attack  at  once,  and  General  Custar 
was  directed  to  bring  up  two  of  his  brigades  rapidly, 
leaving  one  brigade  of  his  division  with  the  trains  that 
had  not  yet  reached  Dinwiddie  Court  House.  In  the 
gallant  attack  made  by  Gibbs  and  Gregg  the  enemy's 
wounded  fell  into  our  hands,  and  he  was  forced  to  face 
by  the  rear  flank  and  give  up  his  movement,  which,  if 


320  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

continued,  would  have  taken  in  flank  and  rear  the  infan- 
try line  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  When  the  enemy 
had  faced  to  meet  this -attack,  a  very  obstinate  and  hand- 
somely contested  battle  ensued,  in  which,  with  all  his 
oavalry  and  two  divisions  of  infantry,  the  enemy  was  un- 
able to  drive  five  divisions  of  our  cavalry,  dismounted, 
from  an  open  plain  in  front  of  Dinwiddie  Court  House. 
The  brunt  of  their  cavalry  attack  was  borne  by  General 
Smith's  Brigade,  which  had  so  gallantly  held  the  crossing 
of  Chamberlain's  Creek  in  the  morning.  His  command 
again  held  the  enemy  in  check  with  determined  bravery, 
but  the  heavy  force  brought  against  his  right  flank  finally 
compelled  him  to  abandon  his  position  on  the  creek,  and 
fall  back  to  the  main  line  immediately  in  front  of  Dinwid- 
die Court  House.  As  the  enemy's  infantry  advanced  to 
the  attack,  our  cavalry  threw  up  slight  breastworks  of  rail? 
at  some  points  along  our  lines,  and  when  the  enemy 
attempted  to  force  this  position,  they  were  handsomely 
repulsed,  and  gave  up  the  attempt  to  gain  possession  of 
the  court  house. 

"  It  was  after  dark  when  the  firing  ceased,  and  the 
enemy  lay  on  their  arms  that  night  rot  more  than  one 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  our  lines.  The  commands  of 
Generals  Devens  and  Davies  reached  Dinwiddie  Court 
House  without  opposition  by  way  of  the  Boydtown  plank 
road,  but  did  not  participate  in  the  final  action  of  the  day. 
In  this  well-contested  battle  the  most  obstinate  gallantry 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  321 

was  displayed  by  my  entire  command.  The  brigades 
commanded  by  General  Gibbs  and  Colonels  Stagg  and 
Fitzhugh,  in  the  First  Division  ;  Generals  Davis,  Gregg, 
and  Smith,  in  the  Second  Division  ;  Colonels  Pennington 
and  Capehart,  in  the  Third  Division,  vied  with  each  other 
in  their  determined  efforts  to  hold  in  check  the  superior 
force  of  the  enemy ;  and  the  skilful  arrangement  of  their 
troops  in  this  peculiarly  difficult  country  entitles  the  bri- 
gade commanders  to  the  highest  commendation.  Gen- 
erals Crook,  Merritt,  Custar,  and  Devens,  by  their  courage 
and  ability,  sustained  their  commands,  and  executed  the 
rapid  movements  of  the  day  with  promptness  and  without 
confusion.  During  the  night  of  the  31st  of  March  my 
headquarters  were  at  Dinwiddie  Court  House,  and  the 
Lieutenant-General  notified  me  that  the  Fifth  Corps 
would  report  to  me,  and  should  reach  me  by  midnight. 
This  corps  had  been  offered  to  me  on  the  30th  instant ; 
but  very  much  desiring  the  Sixth  Corps,  which  had  been 
with  me  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  I  asked  for  it,  but,  oa 
account  of  the  delay  which  would  occur  in  moving  that 
corps  from  its  position  in  the  lines  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
it  could  not  be  sent  to  me.  I  respectfully  submit  here- 
with my  brief  accounts  of  the  operations  of  the  day,  the 
response  to  which  was  the  ordering  of  the  Fifth  Corps  to 
my  support  and  my  command,  as  also  the  despatch  of  the 
Lieutenant-General  notifying  me  of  his  action.  I  under- 
stand that  the  Fifth  Corps,  when  ordered  to  report  to  me, 
21 


322  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

was  in  position  near  S.  Dabney's  house,  in  the  angle  be- 
tween tne  Boydtown  road  and  the  Five  Forks  road.  Had 
General  Warren  moved  according  to  the  expectations  of 
the  Lieutenant-General,  there  would  have  been  but  little 
chance  for  the  escape  of  the  enemy's  infantry  in  front  of 
Dinwiddie  Court  House.  Ayres'  Division  moved  down 
the  Boydtown  plank  road  during  the  night,  and  in  the 
morning  moved  west,  via  R.  Boisseau's  house,  striking 
the  Five  Forks  road  about  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of 
Dinwiddie  Court  House.  General  Warren,  with  Griffin's 
and  Crawford's  Divisions,  moved  down  the  road  by 
Crump's  house,  coming  into  the  Five  Forks  road,  near 
J.  Boisseau's  house,  between  seven  and  eight  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  1st  of  April.  Meantime  I  moved  my 
cavalry  force  at  daylight  against  the  enemy's  lines  in 
front,  which  gave  way  rapidly,  moving  off  by  the  right 
flank  and  crossing  Chamberlain's  Creek.  This  hasty 
movement  was  accelerated  by  the  discovery  that  two 
divisions  of  the  Fifth  Corps  were  in  their  rear,  and  that 
one  division  was  moving  toward  their  left  and  rear.  The 
following  were  the  instructions  sent  to  General  Warren  : 

"  'HEADQ'RS  DINWIDDIE  COURT  HOUSE,  April  1,  1865 — 3  A.  M. 
"  '  To  Major-  General  Warren,  Commanding  Fifth  Army  Corps  ; 

"  '  I  am  holding  in  front  of  Dinwiddie  Court  House, 
on  the  road  leading  to  Five  Forks,  for  three-quarters  of  a 
mile,  with  General  Custar's  division.  The  enemy  are  in 
his  immediate  front,  lying  so  as  to  cover  the  road  just 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  323 

this  side  of  A.  Adams's  house,  which  leads  out  across 
Chamberlain's  bed  or  run.  I  understand  you  have  a 
division  at  J.  Boisseau's ;  if  so,  you  are  in  rear  of  the 
enemy's  line,  and  almost  on  his  flanks.  I  will  hold  on 
here.  Possibly  they  may  attack  Custar  at  daylight ;  if 
so,  attack  instantly  and  in  full  force.  Attack  at  daylight 
anyhow,  and  I  will  make  an  effort  to  get  the  road  this 
side  of  Adams'  house,  and  if  I  do,  you  can  capture  the 
whole  of  them.  Any  force  moving  down  the  road  I  am 
holding,  or  on  the  White  Oak  road,  will  be  in  the  enemy's 
rear,  and  in  all  probability  get  any  force  that  may  escape 
you  by  a  flank  attack.  Do  not  fear  my  leaving  here.  If 
the  enemy  remains,  I  shall  fight  at  daylight. 

"  l  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General/ 

"  As  they  fell  back  the  enemy  were  rapidly  followed 
by  General  Merritt's  two  divisions,  General  Devens 
on  the  right  and  General  Custar  on  tlje  left ;  General 
Crook  in  rear.  During  the  remainder  of  the  day  Gen- 
eral Crook's  Division  held  the  extreme  left  and  rear, 
and  was  not  seriously  engaged.  I  then  determined  that 
I  would  drive  the  enemy,  with  the  cavalry,  to  the  Five 
Forks,  press  them  inside  of  their  works,  and  make  a 
feint  to  turn  their  right  flank,  and  meanwhile  quietly  move 
up  the  Fifth  Corps  with  a  view  to  attacking  their  left 
flank,  crush  the  whole  force,  if  possible,  and  drive  west- 
ward those  who  might  escape,  thus  isolating  them  from 
their  army  at  Petersburg.  Happily,  this  conception  was 


324:  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

successfully  executed.  About  this  time  General  McKen- 
zie's  division  of  cavalry,  from  the  Army  of  the  James, 
reported  to  me,  and  consisted  of  about  one  thousand  ef- 
fective men.  I  directed  General  Warren  to  hold  fast  at 
T.  Boisseau's  house,  refresh  his  men,  and  be  ready  to 
move  to  the  front  when  required  ;  and  General  McKenzie 
was  ordered  to  rest  in  front  of  Dinwiddie  Court  House 
until  further  orders.  Meantime  General  Merritt's  com- 
mand continued  to  press  the  enemy,  and  by  impetuous 
charge^  drove  them  from  two  lines  of  temporary  works ; 
General  Custar  guiding  his  advance  on  the  widow 
Gilliam's  house,  and  General  Devens  on  the  main  Five 
Forks  road.  The  courage  displayed  by  the  cavalry 
officers  and  men  was  superb,  and  about  two  o'clock  the 
enemy  was  behind  his  works  on  the  White  Oak  road,  and 
his  skirmish  line  drawn  in.  I  then  ordered  the  Fifth 
Corps  on  the  main  road,  and  sent  Brevet  Major  Gillespie, 
of  the  engineers,  to  turn  the  head  of  the  column  off  on 
the  Gravelly  Church  road,  and  put  the  corps  in  position 
on  this  road  obliquely  to  and  at  a  point  but  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  White  Oak  road,  and  about  one  mile  from 
the  Five  Forks.  Two  divisions  of  the  corps  were  to 
form  the  front  line,  and  one  division  was  to  be  held  in 
reserve  in  column  of  regiment  opposite  the  centre.  I 
then  directed  General  Merritt  to  demonstrate  as  though 
he  was  attempting  to  turn  the  enemy's  right  flank,  and 
notified  him  that  the  Fifth  Corps  would  strike  the  enemy's 


LIFE    OF   GENEKAL    8HEEIDAN.  325 

left  flank,  and  ordered  that  the  cavalry  should  assault  the 
enemy's  swords  as  soon  as  the  Fifth  Corps  became  en- 
gaged, and  that  would  be  determined  by  the  volleys  of 
musketry.  I  then  rode  over  to  where  the  Fifth  Corps 
was  going  into  position,  and  found  them  coming  up  very 
slowly.  I  was  excedingly  anxious  to  attack  at  once,  for 
the  sun  was  getting  low,  and  we  had  to  fight  or  go  back. 
It  was  no  place  to  intrench,  and  it  would  have  been 
shameful  to  have  gone  back  with  no  results  to  compensate 
for  the  loss  of  the  brave  men  who  had  fallen  during  the 
day.  In  this  connection  I  will  say  that  General  Warren 
did  not  exert  himself  to  get  up  his  corps  as  rapidly  as  hp 
might  have  done,  and  his  manner  gave  me  the  impression 
that  he  wished  the  sun  to  go  down  before  dispositions  for 
the  attack  could  be  completed. 

"  As  soon  as  the  corps  was  in  position,  I  ordered  an 
advance  in  the  following  formation :  Ayres'  DJ  vis  ion  on 
the  left  in  double  lines,  Crawford's  Division  on  the  left  in 
double  lines,  and  Griffin's  Division  in  reserve,  behind 
Crawford ;  and  the  White  Oak  road  was  reached  with- 
out opposition.  While  General  Warren  was  getting  into 
position  I  learned  that  the  left  of  the  Second  Corps  of  th 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  on  my  right,  had  been  swung 
around  from  the  direction  of  its  line  of  battle  until  it 
fronted  on  the  Boydtown  road,  and  parallel  to  it,  which 
offered  an  opportunity  to  the  enemy  to  march  down  the 
White  Oak  road  and  attack  me  in  right  and  rear.  Gen- 


326  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN. 

eral  McKenzie  was  therefore  sent  up  to  Camp  road  with 
directions  to  gain  the  White  Oak  road  if  possible,  but 
to  attack  at  all  hazards  any  enemy  found,  and  join  me. 
General  McKenzie  executed  this  with  courage  and  skill, 
attacking  a  force  of  the  enemy  on  the  White  Oak  road 
and  driving  it  toward  Petersburg.  He  then  counter- 
marched, and  joined  me  on  the  White  Oak  road  just  as 
the  Fifth  Corps  advanced  to  the  attack,  and  I  directed 
him  to  swing  round  with  the  right  of  the  infantry  and 
gain  possession  of  the'  Ford  road  at  the  crossing  of 
Hatcher's  Run.  The  Fifth  Corps,  on  reaching  the  White 
Oak  road,  made  a  left  wheel,  and  burst  on  the  enemy's 
left  flank  and  rear  like  a  tornado,  and  pushed  rapidly  on, 
orders  having  been  given  that  if  the  enemy  was  routed 
there  should  be  no  halt  to  reform  broken  lines.  As 
stated  before,  the  firing  of  the  Fifth  Corps  was  the  signal 
tx>  General  Merritt  to  assault,  which  was  promptly  re- 
sponded to,  and  the  works  of  the  enemy  were  soon  car- 
ried at  several  points  by  our  brave  cavalrymen.  The 
enemy  were  driven  from  their  strong  line  of  works  and 
completely  routed,  the  Fifth  Corps  doubling  up  their  left 
flank  in  confusion  ;  and  the  cavalry  of  General  Merritt 
dashing  on  to  the  White  Oak  road,  capturing  their 
artillery  and  turning  it  upon  them,  and  riding  into  their 
broken  ranks,  so  demoralized  them  that  they  made  no 
serious  stand  after  their  line  was  carried,  but  took  to 
flight  in  disorder.  Between  five  thousand  and  six  tliou 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  327 

sand  prisoners  fell  into  our  hands,  and  the  fugitives  were 
driven  westward,  and  were  pursued  until  long  after  dark 
by  Merritt's  and  McKenzie's  cavalry,  for  a  distance  of 
six  miles.  During  this  attack  I  again  became  dissatis- 
fied with  General  Warren.  During  the  engagement 
portions  of  his  line  gave  way  when  not  exposed  to  a 
heavy  fire,  and  simply  for  want  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  the  troops,  which  General  Warren  did  not  exert  him- 
self to  inspire.  I  therefore  relieved  him  from  the  com- 
mand of  the  Fifth  Corps,  authority  for  this  action  having 
been  sent  me,  before  the  battle,  unsolicited,  When  the 
pursuit  was  given  up  I  directed  General  Griffin,  who  had 
been  ordered  to  assume  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  to 
collect  his  troops  at  once,  march  two  divisions  back  to 
Gravelly  Church,  and  put  them  into  possession  at  right 
angles  to  the  White  Oak  road,  facing  toward  Peters- 
burg, while  Bartlett's  Division,  Griffin's  old,  covered  the 
Ford  road  to  Hatcher's  Run.  General  Merritt's  cavalry 
went  into  camp  on  the  widow  Gilliain's  plantation,  and 
General  McKenzie  took  position  on  the  Ford  road  at  the 
crossing  of  Hatcher's  Run.  I  caiinot  speak  too  highly 
of  the  conduct  of  the  troops  in  this  battle,  and  of  the  gal- 
lantry of  their  commanding  officers,  who  appeared  to 
realize  that  the  success  of  the  campaign  and  fate  of  Lee's 
army  depended  upon  it.  They  merit  the  thanks  of  the 
country  and  reward  of  the  Government.  To  Generals 
Griffin,  Ayres,  Bartlett,  and  Crawford,  of  the  Fifth 


328  LIFE   OF   GENEEAL    SHEEIDAN. 

Corps,  and  to  Generals  Merritt,  Custar,  Devens,  and 
McKenzie,  of  the  cavalry,  great  credit  is  due ;  and  to 
their  subordinate  commanders  they  will  undoubtedly 
award  the  praise  which  is  due  to  them  for  the  hearty 
cooperation,  bravery,  and  ability  which  were  everywhere 
displayed.  At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  April  2, 
General  Miles'  division  of  the  Second  Corps  reported  to 
me,  coming  over  from  the  Boydtown  plank  road.  I 
ordered  it  to  move  up  the  White  Oak  road  toward 
Petersburg,  and  attack  the  enemy  at  the  intersection  of 
that  road  with  the  Claiborne  road,  where  he  was  in 
position  in  heavy  force,  and  I  followed  General  Miles 
immediately,  with  two  divisions  of  the  Fifth  Corps. 
Miles  forced  the  enemy  from  this  position  and  pursued 
with  great  zeal,  pushing  him  across  Hatcher's  Run,  and 
following  him  up  on  the  road  to  Sutherland's  depot.  On 
the  north  side  of  the  run  I  overtook  Miles,  who  was 
anxious  to  attack,  and  had  a  very  fine  and  spirited  divi- 
sion. I  gave  him  permission,  but  about  this  time  Gen- 
eral Humphreys  came  up,  and,  receiving  notice  from  Gen- 
eral Meade  that  General  Humphreys  would  take  command 
of  Miles'  Division,  I  relinquished  it  at  once,  and  facing 
the  Fifth  Corps  by  the  rear.  I  afterwards  regretted  giving 
up  this  division,  as  I  believed  the  enemy  could  at  that 
time  have  been  crushed  at  Sutherland's  depot.  1  re- 
turned to  Five  Forks  and  marched  out  the  Ford  road  to- 
ward Hatcher's  Run.  The  cavalry  had  in  the  mean  time 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  3^i? 

been  sent  westward  to  cross  Hatcher's  Run  and  break 
up  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  had  collected  in  consider 
able  force  north  of  that  stream,  but  they  would  not  stand 
lo  fight,  and  our  cavalry  pursued  them  in  a  direction  due 
north  to  the  Namozine  road.  Crossing  Hatcher's  Rim 
with  the  Fifth  Corps,  the  Southside  Railroad  was  struck 
at  Ford's  depot,  meeting  no  opposition,  and  the  Fifth 
Corps  marched  rapidly  toward  Sutherland's  depot,  in 
flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy  opposing  Miles.  As  he 
approached  that  point  the  force  of  the  enemy  fled  before 
the  Fifth  Corps  could  reach  them,  retreating  along  the 
main  road  by  the  Appomattox  River,  the  cavalry  and 
Crawford's  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  engaging  them 
slightly  about  dusk. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  Sd  our  cavalry  took  up  the 
pursuit,  routing  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  capturing  many 
prisoners.  The  enemy's  infantry  was  encountered  at 
Deep  Creek,  where  a  severe  fight  took  place.  The  Fifth 
Corps  followed  up  the  cavalry  rapidly,  picking  up  many 
prisoners,  and  five  pieces  of  abandoned  artillery  and  a 
number  of  wagons.  The  Fifth  Corps,  with  Crook's  Di- 
vision of  cavalry,  encamped  that  night  (the  4th)  at  Deep 
Creek,  on  the  Namozine  road,  neither  of  these  commands 
having  been  engaged  during  the  day.  On  the  morning 
of  the  4th,  General  Crook  was  ordered  to  strike  the  Dan- 
ville Railroad,  between  Jettersville  and  Burke's  station, 
and  then  move  up  toward  Jettersville.  The  Fifth  Corna 


330  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

moved  rapidly  to  that  point,  as  I  had  learned  from  my 
scouts  that  the  enemy  was  at  Amelia  Court  House,  and 
every  thing  indicated  that  they  were  collecting  at  that 
point.  On  arriving  at  Jettersville,  about  five  o'clock 
.  M.,  I  learned  without  doubt  that  Lee  and  his  whole 
army  were  at  Amelia  Court  House.  The  Fifth  Corps 
was  at  once  ordered  to  intrench,  with  a  view  of  holding 
Jettersville  until  the  main  army  could  come  up.  It  seems 
to  me  that  this  was  the  only  chance  the  Army  of  North- 
ern Virginia  had  to  save  itself,  which  might  have  been 
done  had  General  Lee  promptly  attacked  «ind  driven  back 
the  comparatively  small  force  opposed  to  him,  and  pur- 
sued his  march  to  Burkesville  Junction.  A  despatch  from 
General  Lee's  chief  commissary  to  the  commissary  at 
Danville  and  Lynchburg,  requiring  two  hundred  thousand 
rations  to  be  sent  to  meet  the  army  at  Burkesville,  was 
here  intercepted.  So  soon  as  I  found  that  the  entire  army 
of  the  enemy  was  concentrated  at  Amelia  Court  House, 
I  forwarded  promptly  all  the  information  I  had  obtained 
to  General  Meade  and  the  Lieutenant-General.  On  the 
morning  of  April  5th,  General  Crook  was  directed  to 
send  General  Davies'  Brigade  to  make  a  reconnoissance 
to  Paine's  cross-roads  on  our  left  and  front,  and  ascer- 
tain if  the  enemy  were  making  any  movement  toward 
that  flank  to  escape.  General  Davies  struck  a  train  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  wagons,  escorted  by  a  consider- 
able force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  he  defeated, 


LIFE   OF    GENEKAL    BHEKIDAN.  331 

capturing  five  pieces  of  artillery.  He  destroyed  the 
wagons  and  brought  in  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 
Gregg's  and  Smith's  Brigades  of  the  Second  Division 
were  sent  out  to  support  Davies,  and  some  heavy  fight 
ing  ensued — the  enemy  having  sent  a  strong  force  of  in- 
fantry to  attack  and  cut  off  Davies'  Brigade,  which  at- 
tempt  was  unsuccessful.  During  the  afternoon,  and  after 
the  arrival  of  the  Second  Corps  at  Jettersville,  which 
General  Meade  requested  me  to  put  in  position,  he  being 
ill,  the  enemy  demonstrated  strongly  in  front  of  Jetters- 
ville, against  Smith's  and  Gregg's  Divisions  of  Crook's 
cavalry,  but  no  serious  attack  was  made.  Early  on  the 
morning  of  April  6th,  General  Crook  was  ordered  to 
move  to  the  left  to  Deatonville,  followed  by  Custar's  and 
Devens'  divisions  of  General  Merritt's  command.  The 
Fifth  Corps  had  been  returned  to  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Meade  at  his  request.  I  afterwards  regretted  giv- 
ing up  the  corps.  When  near  Deatonville,  the  enemy's 
trains  were  discovered  moving  in  the  direction  of  Burkes- 
ville  or  Farmville,  escorted  by  heavy  masses  of  infantry 
and  cavalry,  and  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  whole  of 
Lee's  army  was  attempting  to  make  its  escape.  Crook 
was  at  once  ordered  to  attack  the  trains,  and,  if  the  ene- 
my was  too  strong,  one  of  the  divisions  would  pass  him 
while  he  held  fast  and  pressed  the  enemy,  and  attack  at 
a  point  further  on,  and  this  division  was  ordered  to  do 
the  samp,,  and  so  on,  alternating,  and  this  system  of  at- 


332  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

tack  would  enable  us  finally  to  strike  some  weak  point 
This  result  was  obtained  just  south  of  Sailor's  Creek,  and 
on  the  high  ground  over  that  stream.  Custar  took  the 
road,  and  Crook  and  Devens  coming  up  to  his  support, 
sixteen  pieces  of  artillery  were  captured  and  about  four 
hundred  wagons  destroyed,  and  many  prisoners  were 
taken,  and  three  divisions  of  the  enemy's  infantry  were 
cut  off  from  the  line  of  retreat.  Meantime  Colonel  Stagg, 
commanding  the  Michigan  Brigade  of  the  First  Division, 
was  held  at  a  point  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
Deatonsville,  and  with  this  force  a  section  of  Miller's  bat- 
tery, which  shelled  the  trains  with  excellent  effect,  while 
Colonel  Stagg  demonstrated  to  attack  them,  thus  keeping 
a  large  force  of  the  enemy  from  moving  against  the  rest 
of  the  cavalry,  and  holding  them  until  the  arrival  of  the 
Sixth  Corps,  which  was  marching  to  report  to  me.  I 
felt  so  strongly  the  necessity  of  holding  this  large  force 
of  the  enemy  that  I  gave  permission  to  General  Merritt 
to  order  Colonel  Stagg's  Brigade  to  make  a  mounted 
charge  against  their  lines,  which  was  most  gallantly 
done,  the  men  leaving  many  of  their  horses  dead  almost 
up  to  the  enemy's  works.  On  the  arrival  of  the  head  of 
the  Sixth  Corps,  the  enemy  commenced  withdrawing. 
Major-General  Wright  was  ordered  to  put  Seymour's 
Division  into  position  at  once  and  advance  and  carry  the 
road,  which  was  done  at  a  point  about  two  miles,  or  two 
miles  and  a  half  from  Deatonsville.  As  soon  as  the  road 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  333 

was  in  our  possession,  General  Wright  was  directed  to 
push  General  Seymour  on,  the  enemy  falling  back,  skir- 
mishing briskly.  Their  resistance  growing  stubborn,  a 
halt  was  called  to  get  up  Wheaton's  Division  of  the  Sixth 
Corps,  which  went  into  position  on  the  left  of  the  road, 
Seymour  being  on  the  right.  Wheaton  was  ordered  to 
guide  right,  with  his  right  connecting  with  Seymour's 
left  and  resting  on  the  road.  I  still  felt  the  great  im- 
portance of  pushing  the  enemy,  and  was  unwilling  to 
wait  for  the  First  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  to  get  up. 
I  therefore  ordered  an  advance,  sending  word  to  General 
Humphreys,  who  was  on  the  road  to  our  right,  and  re- 
questing him  to  push  on,  as  I  felt  confident  that  we  could 
break  up  the  enemy.  It  was  apparent,  from  the  absence 
of  artillery  fire  and  the  manner  in  which  they  gave  way 
when  pressed,  that  the  force  of  the  enemy  opposed  to  us 
was  a  heavy  rear-guard.  The  enemy  was  driven  until 
our  lines  reached  Sailor's  Creek,  and  from  the  north 
bank  I  could  see  our  cavalry  on  the  high  ground  above 
the  creek  and  south  of  it,  and  the  long  line  of  smoke  from 
the  burning  wagons.  A  cavalryman,  who,  in  a  charge, 
cleared  the  enemy's  works,  and  came  through  their  lines, 
reported  to  me  what  was  in  their  front.  I  regret  that  I 
have  forgotten  the  name  of  this  gallant  young  soldier. 
As  soon  as  General  Wright  could  get  his  artillery  into 
position,  I  ordered  the  attack  to  be  made  on  the  left,  and 
sent  Colonp.l  Stagg's  Brigade  of  cavalry  to  strike  and 


334  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

flank  the  extreme  right  of  the  enemy's  line.  The  attack 
by  the  infantry  was  not  executed  exactly  as  I  had  di- 
rected, and  a  portion  of  our  line  in  the  open  ground  was 
broken  by  the  terrible  fire  of  the  enemy,  who  were  in 
position  on  commanding  ground  south  of  the  creek. 
This  attack  by  Wheaton's  and  Seymour's  Divisions  was 
splendid,  but  no  more  than  I  had  reason  to  expect  from 
the  gallant  Sixth  Corps.  The  cavalry  in  rear  of  the  ene- 
my attacked  simultaneously,  and  the  enemy,  after  a  gal- 
lant resistance,  were  completely  surrounded,  and  nearly 
all  threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  General 
Ewell,  commanding  the  enemy's  forces,  and  a  number 
of  other  general  officers,  fell  into  our  hands,  and  a  very 
large  number  of  prisoners.  I  have  never  ascertained 
exactly  how  many  prisoners  were  taken  in  this  battle. 
Most  of  them  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  cavalry,  but  they 
are  no  more  entitled  to  claim  them  than  the  Sixth  Corps, 
to  which  command  equal  credit  is  due  for  the  good  re- 
sults of  this  engagement.  Both  the  cavalry  and  the 
Sixth  Corps  encamped  south  of  Sailor's  Creek  that  night, 
having  followed  up  the  small  remnant  of  the  enemy's 
forces  for  several  miles.  In  reference  to  the  participa- 
tion of  the  Sixth  Corps  in  this  action,  I  desire  to  add  that 
the  Lieutenant-General  had  notified  me  that  this  corps 
would  report  to  me.  Major  McClellan  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Franklin,  of  General  Wright's  staff,  had  suc- 
cessively been  sent  forward  to  report  the  progress  of  the 


LIFE    OF   GENERAL    SHEKtDAN.  335 

corps  in  coming  up,  and  on  the  arrival  of  Major-General 
Wright  he  reported  his  corps  to  me,  and  from  that  time 
until  after  the  battle  received  my  orders  and  obeyed  them  ; 
but  after  the  engagement  was  over,  and  General  Meade 
had  communicated  with  General  Wright,  the  latter  de- 
clined to  make  his  report  to  me  until  ordered  to  do  so  by 
the  Lieutenant-General.  On  the  7th  instant  the  pursuit 
was  continued  early  in  the  morning  by  the  cavalry,  G  en- 
eral  Crook  in  the  advance. 

"  It  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  jiot  been  cut 
off  by  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  under  the  belief  that 
he  would  attempt  to  escape  on  the  Danville  road,  through 
Prince  Edward  Court  House,  General  Merritt  was  or- 
dered to  move  his  tvvo  divisions  to  that  point,  passing 
around  the  left  of  the  Army  of  the  James.  General 
Crook  continued  the  direct  pursuit,  encountering  the  main 
body  of  the  enemy  at  Farmville,  and  again  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Appomattox,  when  the  enemy's  trains  were 
attacked  by  General  Gregg,  and  a  sharp  fight  with  *he 
enemy's  -nfantry  ensued,  in  which  General  Greg^  was 
unfortunately  captured.  On  arriving  at  Prince  Edward 
Court  House  I  found  General  McKenzie  with  his  division 
of  cavalry  from  the  Army  of  the  James,  add  ordered  him 
to  cross  the  bridge  on  the  Buffalo  River,  and  make  a  re- 
connoissance  to  Prospect  station  on  the  Lynchburg  Rail- 
road, and  ascertain  if  the  enemy  were  moving  past  that 
point.  Meantime  I  heard  from  General  Crook  that  the 


336  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   6HEKEDAN. 

enemy  had  crossed  to  the  north  side  of  the  Appomattox, 
and  General  Merritt  was  then  moved  on  and  encamped  at 
Buffalo  Creek,  and  General  Crook  was  ordered  to  recross 
the  Appomattox  and  encamp  at  Prospect  station.  On  the 
morning  of  the  8th,  Merritt  and  McKenzie  continued  the 
march  to  Prospect  station,  and  Merritt's  and  Crook's  com- 
mands then  moving  on  to  Appomattox  depot,  a  point  on 
the  Lynchburg  Railroad,  five  miles  south  of  Appomattox 
Court  House.  Shortly  after  the  march  commenced,  Ser- 
geant White,  one  of  my  scouts,  notified  me  that  there 
were  four  trains  of  cars  at  Appomattox  depot  loaded  with 
supplies  for  General  Lee's  army.  Generals  Merritt  and 
Crook  were  at  once  notified,  and  the  command  pushed  on 
briskly  for  twenty-eight  miles.  General  Custar  had  the 
advance,  and  on  nearingthe  depot,  skilfully  threw  a  force 
in  the  rear  of  the  trains  and  captured  them.  Without 
halting  a  moment  he  pushed  on,  driving  the  enemy  (who 
had  reached  the  depot  about  the  same  time  as  our  cavalry) 
in  the  direction  of  Appomattox  Court  House,  capturing 
many  prisoners  and  twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  hos- 
pital train,  and  a  large  park  of  wagons.  General  Devens 
coming  up,  went  in  on  the  right  of  Custar.  The  fighting 
continued  till  after  dark,  and  the  enemy  being  driven  to 
Appomattox  Court  House,  I  at  once  notified  the  Lieuten- 
ant-General, and  sent  word  to  Generals  Ord  and  Gibbon, 
of  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  General  Grifiin,  com- 
manding the  Fifth  Corps,  who  were  in  the  rear,  that,  if 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEEIDAN.  337 

they  pressed  on,  there  was  now  no  means  of  escape  for 
the  enemy,  who  had  reached  l  the  last  ditch.'  During 
the  night,  although  we  knew  that  the  remnant  of  Lee's 
army  was  in  our  front,  we  held  fast  with  the  cavalry  to 
what  we  had  gained,  and  ran  the  captured  trains  back 
aloag  the  railroad  to  a  point  where  they  would  be  pro- 
tected by  our  infantry  that  was  coming  up.  The  Twenty- 
fourth  and  Fifth  Corps,  and  one  division  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Corps,  arrived  about  daylight  on  the  9th  at  Appo- 
niattox  depot.  After  consulting  with  General  Ord,  who 
was  in  command  of  these  corps,  I  rode  to  the  front,  near 
Appomattox  Court  House  ;  and  just  as  the  enemy  in  heavy 
force  was  attacking  the  cavalry  with  the  intention  of 
breaking  through  our  lines,  I  directed  the  cavalry,  which 
was  dismounted,  to  fall  back,  gradually  resisting  the  ene 
my,  so  as  -to  give  time  for  the  infantry  to  form  its  lines 
and  march  to  the  attack,  and,  when  this  was  done,  to  move 
off  to  the  right  flank  and  mount.  This  was  done,  and  the 
enemy  discontinued  his  attack  as  soon  as  he  caught  sight 
of  our  infantry.  I  moved  briskly  around  the  left  of  the 
onemy's  line  of  battle,  which  was  falling  back  rapidly 
/heavily  pressed  by  the  advance  of  the  infantry),  and  was 
about  to  charge  the  trains  and  the  confused  masses  of  the 
enemy,  when  a  white  flag  was  presented  to  General  Cus- 
ta",  who  had  the  advance,  and  who  sent  the  information 
to  me  at  once  that  the  enemy  desired  to  surrender.  Riding 
over  to  the  left  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  I  met  Major- 


338  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

General  Gordon,  of  the  rebel  service,  and  Major-General 
Wilcox.  General  Gordon  requested  a  suspension  of  hos- 
tilities, pending  negotiations  for  a  surrender  then  being 
held  between  Lieutenant-General  Grant  and  General  Lee. 
I  notified  to  him  that  I  desired  to  prevent  the  unnecessary 
effusion  of  blood,  but  as  there  was  nothing  definitely  set- 
tled in  the  correspondence,  and  as  an  attack  had  been  made 
on  my  lines  with  the  view  to  escape,  under  the  impression 
our  force  was  only  cavalry,  I  must  have  some  assurance 
of  an  intended  surrender.  This  General  Gordon  gave  by 
saying  that  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  surrender  of  Gen 
eral  Lee's  army.  I  then  separated  from  him,  with  an 
agreement  to  meet  these  officers  again,  in  half  an  hour,  at 
Appomattox  Court  House.  At  the  specified  time,  in  com- 
pany with  General  Ord,  who  commanded  the  infantry,  1 
again  met  this  officer,  and  also  Lieutenant-General  Long- 
street,  and  I  received  from  them  the  same  assurance,  and 
hostilities  ceased  until  the  arrival  of  Lieutenant-General 
Grant.  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  yours,  &c., 

"  P.  H.  SHERIDAN,  Major-General. 

How  sublime  and  noble  the  brief  interchange  of  mes 
sages  between  the  valiant  Sheridan  and  his  Lieutenant- 
General,  when  General  Lee  was  brought  fairly  at  bay  by 
the  hero  of  the  Shenandoah  ! 

"  I  wish  you  were' here  yourself,"  he  wrote  to  Grant 
—a  compliment  to  which  the  Lieutenant-General  maybe 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  339 

proud  to  point.     *'  If  things  are  pressed,"  he  added,  "  I 
think  Lee  will  surrender." 

"Press  things,"  was  Grant's  order.  It  needed  no 
order.  Sheridan  pushed  forward  rapidly,  struck  right 
and  left,  punishing  the  enemy  wherever  found,  and  at  last 
forcing  Lee  to  surrender. 

Here  is  the  form  of  personal  parole  given  by  the  chiefs 
of  the  army : 

We,  the  undersigned,  prisoners  of  war  belonging  to 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  having  been  this  day 
surrendered  by  General  R.  E.  Lee,  commanding  said 
army,  to  Lieutenant-General  Grant,  commanding  the 
Armies  of  the  United  States,  do  hereby  give  our  solemn 
parole  of  honor  that  we  will  not  hereafter  serve  in  the 
armies  of  the  Confederate  States,  or  in  any  military  capa- 
city whatever,  against  the  United  States  of  America,  or 
render  aid  to  the  enemies  of  the  latter  until  properly  ex- 
changed in  such  manner  as  shall  be  mutually  approved 
by  the  respective  authorities. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

W.  H.  TAYLOR,  Lieut  -Col.  and  A.  A.  G. 

CHAS.  S.  VENABLE,  Lieut. -Col.  and  A.  A.  G. 

CHAS.  MARSHALL,  Lieut.-Col.  and  A.  A.  G. 

H.  E.  PRATON,  Lieut.-Col.  and  Ins.-Gen. 

GILES  BOOKE,  Major  and  A.  A.  Surgeon-Gen. 

H.  S.  YOUNG,  A.  A.  General. 

Done  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,  this  ninth  (9th) 
day  of  April,  1865. 


34:0  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

April  9,  1865  ! — Proud  and  memorable  day  !  Its  de 
dining  sun  shone  upon  an  impressive  scene  at  Appomattox 
Court  House,  in  Virginia.  There  the  able  and  haughty 
chieftain  of  the  rebellion  surrendered  to  our  unpretending, 
noble  Grant,  the  whole  army  of  Northern  Virginia — the 
last  hope  of  the  seceded  States.  Oh !  how  the  tidings, 
flying  on  lightning  wing,  set  the  bells  ringing  at  midnight 
of  that  Sabbath!  Men  wept /and  shouted  for  joy  even 
before  the  dawn  of  the  morning.  Then  came  the  marches 
of  glad  processions,  with  music  and  banners,  and  the 
crowded  sanctuaries  with  prayer  and  praise.  Never,  per- 
haps, before  did  such  a  tide  of  grateful,  jubilant  gladness 
sweep  over  a  nation,  half  of  whose  families  were  in 
mourning  for  the  slain  heroes.  A  Christian  Republic 
was  exultant,  but  giving  God  the  glory  I 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


The  Pursuit  of  Johnston— General  Sherman  Negotiates— The  President  Slala— 
A  great  Transition  in  the  Public  Feeling — The  Government  account  of  thf 
Assassination— The  surrender  of  Johnston. 


)HE  surrender  of  Lee  was  followed  by  that  of  the 
troops  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  voluntarily, 
with  few  exceptions.  Among  the  commanders 
were  Generals  Moseby  and  Rosser ;  the  latter, 
you  will  recollect,  tried  his  generalship  on  the 
rear  of  Sheridan's  army  near  Fisher's  Hill.  Meanwhile 
the  peerless  Sherman,  after  a  brief  rest  in  his  Southern 
marches,  April  10th,  the  day  after  General  Lee's  sur- 
render, started  after  his  old  antagonist,  Johnston.  Kil- 
patrick,  on  that  day,  moved  his  cavalry  out  on  the  road 
to  Raleigh,  and  next  day,  the  llth,  the  infantry  started 
in  very  light  marching  order.  The  march  was,  how- 
ever, quite  deliberate  and  easy,  as  the  railroad,  broken 
up  by  the  enemy  between  Raleigh  and  Goldsboro,  was  to 
be  repaired.  On  the  13th  Raleigh  was  reached,  and 
occupied  with  only  a  slight  skirmish  on  the  outskirts, 


34:2  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

Johnston  falling  back  toward  Hillsboro.  The  enemy  had 
destroyed  his  small  navy-yard  at  Halifax,  on  the  Roanoke, 
in  consequence  of  the  surrender  of  Lee.  A  ram  and  a 
gunboat,  partially  completed,  were  burned.  On  the  15th 
news  came  to  the  same  place  that  Governor  Vance  was 
captured  by  our  cavalry  between  Hillsboro  and  Raleigh, 
on  the  13th  instant.  At  this  crisis  of  the  national  strife, 
in  the  flush  of  decisive  victory,  every  heart  aglow  with 
delight,  but  toned  down  in  many  homes  with  mourning  for 
the  unreturning,  a  bolt  from  the  clear,  smiling  heavens, 
fell  upon  the  nation's  idol,  crushing  the  hope  of  millions 
in  a  moment. 

To  gratify  the  multitude,  and  enjoy  needed  relaxation, 
the  President  attended  Ford's  Theatre  on  the  evening  of 
April  14th.  He  was  no  patron  of  dissipation,  or  of  amuse- 
ments which  are  represented  by  the  corrupt  modern  stage. 
He  said,  when  hesitating  about  going  that  night,  "  If  I  do 
not  go,  the  people  will  be  disappointed."  He  went,  and 
the  telegrams  which  flew  over  the  land  told  the  result. 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  15 — 1:30  A.  M. 
"Major- General  Dix,  New  York: 

"  This  evening,  at  about  9:30  P.  M.,  at  Ford's  Theatre, 
the  President,  while  sitting  in  his  private  box  with  Mrs. 
Lincoln,  Miss  Harris,  and  Major  Rathburn,  was  shot  by 
an  assassin,  who  suddenly  entered  the  box  and  approached 
behind  the  President.  The  assassin  then  leaped  upon  the 
etage,  brandishing  a  large  dagger  or  knife,  and  made  hi? 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  34:3 

escape  in  the  rear  of  the  theatre.  The  pistol  ball  entered 
the  back  of  the  President's  head  and  penetrated  nearly 
through  the  head.  The  wound  is  mortal.  The  Presi- 
dent has  been  insensible  ever  since  it  was  inflicted,  and  is 
now  dying. 

"  About  the  same  hour,  an  assassin,  whether  the  same 
or  not,  entered  Mr.  Seward's  apartments,  and,  under 
pretence  of  having  a  prescription,  was  shown  to  the  Sec- 
retary's sick  chamber.  The  assassin  immediately  rushed 
to  the  bed  and  inflicted  two  or  three  stabs  on  the  throat 
and  two  on  the  face.  It  is  hoped  the  wounds  may  not  be 
mortal.  My  apprehension  is  that  they  will  prove  fatal. 
The  nurse  alarmed  Mr.  Frederick  Seward,  who  was  in 
an  adjoining  room,  and  he  hastened  to  the  door  of  his 
father's  room,  when  he  met  the  assassin,  who  inflicted 
upon  him  one  or  more  dangerous  wounds.  The  recovery 
of  Frederick  Seward  is  doubtful.  It  is  not  probable  that 
the  President  will  live  through  the  night. 

"  General  Grant  and  wife  were  advertised  to  be  at 
the  theatre  last  evening,  but  he  started  to  Burlington  at 
six  o'clock. 

"  At  a  Cabinet  meeting,  at  which  General  Grant  was 
present,  the  subject  of  the  state  of  the  country  and  the 
prospect  of  a  speedy  peace  were  discussed.  The  Presi- 
dent was  very  cheerful  and  hopeful,  and  spoke  very  kindly 
of  General  Lee  and  others  of  the  Confederacy,  and  of  the 
establishment  of  government  in  Virginia. 


34:4  LIFE   OP   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.      r 

"All  the  members  of  the  Cabinet,  except  Mr.  Sew- 
ard,  are  now  in  attendance  upon  the  President.  I  hava 
seen  Mr.  Seward,  but  he  and  Frederick  were  both  un- 
conscious. EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  April  16. 
"  Major-General  Dix  : 

"  Abraham  Lincoln  died  this  morning  at  twenty-two 
,  minutes  after  seven  o'clock. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War." 

The  nation  was  stunned  ;  then  broken-hearted.  Such 
demonstrations  of  grief  have  no  parallel  in  the  world's 
history — so  manifold,  profound,  and  general,  attending 
the  tidings  even  in  distant  lands.  The  funeral  ceremonies 
on  the  19th  were  of  the  most  impressive  character. 

During  these  scenes,  General  Sherman  had  opened 
negotiations  with  General  Johnston  for  the  formal  sur- 
render of  his  army.  But  the  terms,  which,  without  the 
assassin's  exhibition  of  the  animus  of  the  rebellion,  would 
have  been  deemed  too  liberal,  though  undesignedly  so 
by  the  brave  Sherman,  were  rejected  by  the  Govern- 
ment, in  the  hands  of  the  new  President,  with  feelings 
of  horror  and  grief,  awakened  by  the  terrible  tragedy. 
General  Grant  was  ordered  to  take  the  field,  and  on 
April  25th  secured  the  surrender  of  General  Johnston  tc 
General  Sherman,  on  the  same  conditions  as  those  accord- 


LIFE   OF   GENEKAL    SHERIDAN.  341: 

ed  to  Lee.  This  virtually  closed  the  four  years'  war  of 
the  Republic  for  its  own  life. 

The  people  again  rejoiced,  though  the  solemn  pageant- 
ry of  the  President's  funeral  in  the  White  House,  and 
the  slow,  imposing  transit  thence  of  the  beloved  form  to 
the  western  burial  place  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  sur- 
pressed  its  noisy  expression. 

And  now  commenced  the  breaking  up  of  the  two  great 
armies  which  crushed  the  rebellion,  as  between  the  upper 
and  nether  millstones.  The  gallant  Stoneman's  cavalry, 
meanwhile,  was  sent  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  and 
arch-traitor  Jefferson  Davis. 

Stoneman's  expedition  from  Tennessee  to  North  Caro- 
lina began  on  the  10th  of  March,  and  extending  over  five 
hundred  miles,  comparing  well  with  Sheridan's  havoc  in 
the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  was  brought  to  a  sudden 
termination  by  the  death  of  the  hydra-headed  treason. 
The  magnificent  hosts  of  the  Union  commenced  their 
homeward  march. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

rhe  Armies  Converge  toward  Washington — The  Unc'-.qnerable  Sheridan  not 
allowed  to  Kest  and  enjoy  Eeviews— Is  Serenaded— Departs  for  Texas— The 
Grand  Review — New  Military  Department — General  Shei  idan's  Command. 

MID  the  frequent  May  showers  for  several  days 
the  Union  armies  marched  toward  the  Capital, 
with  banners  floating  over  brave,  glad  hearts, 
to  share  in  the  most  magnificent  pageant  ever 
witnessed  on  this  continent,  to  open  on  the  22d 
day  of  May.  On  the  evening  of  the  20th,  in  Willard's 
Hotel,  sat  Lieutenant-General  Grant  and  General  Sheri- 
dan, The  latter  had  been  appointed  to  command  the 
forces  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  was  at  once  to  leare 
foi  Texas,  and  take  care  of  Generals  Kirby  Smith  and  Ma- 
gruder.  The  interview  between  the  Generals  was  cordial, 
and  the  plans  for  closing  the  conflict  freely  discussed.  It 
was  a  parting  interview,  on  the  eve  of  departure  and 
separation  by  Sheridan  from  his  commander  and  the 
scenes  of  the  Potomac  Army. 

Suddenly  music  broke  in  upon  the  quiet   converse. 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  347 

Two  regimental  bands,  that  of  the  30th  Maine  and  also 
of  the  47th  Pennsylvania,  serenaded  the  hero  of  the  She- 
nandoah  valley,  calling  together  an  immense  crowd,  who 
shouted  :  "  A  speech  !  A  speech  !  "  but  in  vain.  The 
people  dispersed,  and  soon  the  great  captains  sought 
repose. 

The  next  morning  Sheridan's  cavalry  passed  before 
him  to  pay  a  farewell  salute.  The  General  stood  on  the 
balcony  of  Willard's  Hotel  in  the  full  uniform  of  a  Major- 
General  of  cavalry,  smoking  his  segar,  and  lifting  his  hat  as 
flag  after  flag  passed  by,  inscribed  with  the  battles  in  which 
he  was  the  directing  spirit.  The  troopers  cheered  their 
commander,  enthusiastically  waving  their  sabres,  while 
the  bands  played  "  Hail  to  the  Chief!  "  The  column  was 
over  an  hour  in  passing.  General  Custar  led  the  column 
— his  own  division  all  wearing  the  "  Custar  neck-tie," 
which  is  a  bright  scarlet  scarf  with  long  ends  floating 
over  the  left  shoulder.  When  the  head  of  the  column 
had  reached  Capitol  Hill,  General  Custar  returned  to 
Willard's,  receiving  loud  cheers  from  the  troopers  as  he 
rode  up  the  avenue.  They  encamped  along  the  Bladens- 
burg  road,  to  be  on  hand  for  Tuesday  morning. 

General  Sheridan's  officers  dined  with  him  at  Willard's, 
and  accompanied  him  to  the  Baltimore  depot.  He  left  at 
six  o'clock,  with  his  staff'  and  orderlies,  amid  the  cheers 
of  a  crowd  of  friends,  to  restore  law  and  order  in  Texas. 

In  the  review  of  the  troops  which  followed,  the  cavalry 


34:8  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHERIDAN. 

of  Sheridan,  under  the  gallant  Custar,  was  there,  although 
the  master  spirit  was  on  his  way  to  a  distant  field. 

July  17th,  1865,  General  Sheridan  formally  assumed 
the  position  of  Commander  of  the  Military  Division  of  the 
Gulf,  issuing  on  that  day  his  official  order.  This  new 
and  wide  field  of  operations  is  one  of  the  five  grand  de- 
partments of  the  national  military  domain,  and  embraces 
the  States  of  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  and  Florida. 
Thus  General  Sheridan  had  military  jurisdiction  over 
four  States. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


General   Sheridan  a  Catholic— His   Qualities  as  Commander— Personal  Pres- 
ence—" Sheridan's  Hide  "  —The  Poem  and  its  History. 


^ENERAL  SIIERIDA&  was  a  member  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church.  His  great  forte  in  com- 
mand was  the  fiery  enthusiasm  with  which  he 
inspired  the  men  —  making  them,  like  himself, 
insensible  to  danger,  and  resistless  hi  valor. 
Grant,  Sherman,  and  Thomas  were  great  in  strategy,  and 
calm  in  execution.  Sheridan  never  failed  in  his  plans,  but 
won  his  victories  chiefly  through  this  sublime  heroism  on 
fire  with  martial  daring  and  glory.  At  the  head  of  his 
men  he  was  an  animated  standard  of  victory ;  like  the  Am- 
erican flag,  always  awaking  intense  patriotic  fervor  and 
activity. 

The  fidelity  of  the  staff  officer's  sketch  of  the  personal 
appearance  and  habits  of  General  Sheridan,  is  confirmed 
by  all  who  knew  him  well :  "In  person   (at  least  in  re- 
349 


350  LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

pose)  General  Sheridan  would  not  be  called  a  handsome 
man.  Some  one  has  called  him  an  '  emphatic  human 
syllable.'  If  so,  nature's  compositor  set  him  up  in  the 
black  face,  broad  letter,  sometimes  seen  in  'jobs'  and 
advertisements.  It  is  '  solid '  at  that.  Sheridan  is  barely 
five  feet  six  inches  in  height.  His  body  is  stout ;  his 
lower  limbs  rather  short.  He  is  what  would  be  called 
4  stocky,'  in  horse-jockey  phraseology.  Deep  and  broad 
in  the  chest,  compact  and  firm  in  muscle,  active  and  vig- 
orous in  motion,  there  was  not  a  pound  of  superfluous 
flesh  on  his  body  at  the  time  we  write.  His  face  and 
head  showed  his  Celtic  origin.  Head  long,  well  balanced 
in  shape,  and  covered  with  a  full  crop  of  close  curling 
dark  hair.  His  forehead  moderately  high,  but  quite 
broad,  perceptives  well  developed,  high  cheek  bones, 
dark  beard,  closely  covering  a  square  lower  jaw,  and 
firm-lined  mouth,  clear  dark  eyes,  which  were  of  a  most 
kindly  character,  completed  the  tout  ensemble  memory 
gives  at  the  call.  Always  neat  in  person,  and  generally 
dressed  in  uniform,  Captain  Sheridan  looked  as  he  was?<i 
a  quiet,  unassuming,  but  determined  officer  and  gentle- 
man, whose  modesty  would  always  have  been  a  barrier 
to  great  renown,  had  not  the  golden  gates  of  opportunity 
been  unbarred  for  his  passage.  Almost  the  opposite  of 
the  Lieutenant-General  in  his  intellectual  traits,  yet  like 
him  in  many  social  characteristics,  it  would  have  been 
diificult  for  so  great  a  general  to  have  found  a  more  vig- 


LIFE   OF   GENEEAL    SHEEIDAN.  351 

orous  subordinate,  or  a  more  daring  executive  of  the  stu- 
pendous plans  he  formed.  Philip  Henry  Sheridan  is 
now  thirty-four  years  of  age,  and  has  won  a  reputation 
second  only  to  Grant  himself,  and  to  that  embodiment  of 
nervous  and  intellectual  force,  Major-General  Sherman." 
Says  another  who  saw,  and  observed  Sheridan  closely . 
u  Sheridan  will  always  be  prominent  amon£  the  Marshal 
Neys  of  the  war  for  the  Union — as  the  representative  of 
that  class  of  fighting  generals  in  which  Hancock,  Rous- 
seau, Hooker,  and  Logan  are  among  the  most  distin- 
guished. These  generals  have  the  same  character  among 
the  men  with  whom  they  have  served  as  Sheridan  has 
throughout  the  whole  country.  General  L.  H.  Rousseau 
was  by  far  the  most  popular  general  who  ever  served 
with  the  army  of  the  Ohio  or  Cumberland,  and  his  popu- 
larity dated  from  the  day  of  Shiloh,  where  he.  like  Sheri- 
dan, led,  not  directed^  his  men.  Rousseau  loves  fighting 
as  much,  and  is  as  naturally  a  belligerent,  as  Sheridan — 
fights  in  the  same  style,  with  equal  exposure  of  person, 
equal  personal  daring,  and  with  equal  effect.  '  Fighting 
Joe  Hooker*  received  his  title  from  the  same  predisposi- 
tion for  fighting.  At  the  first  sound  of  battle  Hookefr 
springs  nimbly  to  his  saddle,  and  is  off  into  the  field  at 
the  head  of  his  men.  Rousseau  and  Hooker  are  both 
men  of  large,  handsome,  towering  proportions,  and  have 
in  the  field  the  advantage  in  that  respect  of  Sheridan. 
Logan  is  a  man  of  Sheridan's  own  styk  m  build  and  ap 


352  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

pearance,  and  is  the  same  daring,  enthusiastic,  and  vig* 
orous  fighter  that  Sherman  is.  4  Black  Jack/  as  Logan 
is  cal  3d  by  his  men,  in  consequence  of  his  very  dark 
complexion,  resembles  Sheridan. 

"  The  latter  fights  vigorously  and  roughly,  and  when 
the  tide  of  battle  flows  and  ebbs  most  doubtingly  he  holds 
on  most  grimly.  In  private  life  his  great  energy  is  a 
little  curt,  and  his  fiery  temper  a  little  too  quick,  but  his 
abruptness  and  belligerency  are  too  honest  and  natural  to 
excite  condemnation ;  while  his  manner,  when  not  ex- 
cited or  opposed,  is  distinguished  by  great  courtesy,  mod- 
esty, and  pleasantry. 

"  Sheridan's  appearance,  like  that  of  Grant,  is  apt  to 
disappoint  one  who  had  not  seen  him  previous  to  his 
having  become  famous.  He  has  none  of  the  qualities 
which  are  popularly  attributed  by  the  imagination  to 
heroes.  '  Little  Phil '  is  a  title  of  endearment  given  him 
by  his  soldiers  in  the  West,  and  is  descriptive  of  his  per- 
sonal appearance.  He  is  shorter  than  Grant,  but  some- 
what stouter  built ;  and  being  several  years  younger  and 
of  a  different  temperament,  is  more  active  and  wiry. 
The  smallness  of  his  stature  is  soon  forgotten  when  he  is 
seen  mounted.  He  seems  then  to  develop  physically  as 
he  does  mentally  after  a  short  acquaintance.  Unlike 
many  of  our  heroes,  Sheridan  does  not  dwindle  as  one 
approaches  him.  Distance  lends  neither  his  character 
nor  personal  appearance  any  enchantment.  He  talks 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  353 

more  frequently  and  more  fluently  than  Grant  does,  and 
his  quick  and  slightly  nervous  gestures  partake  somewhat 
of  the  manner  of  Sherman  His  body  is  stout  but  wiry, 
and  set  on  short,  heavy,  but  active  legs.  His  broad 
shoulders,  short,  stiff  hair,  and  the  features  of  his  face 
betray  the  Milesian  descent ;  but  no  brogue  can  be 
traced  in  his  voice.  His  eyes  are  gray,  and  being  small 
are  sharp  and  piercing  and  full  of  fire.  When  mad 
dened  with  excitement  or  passion  these  glare  fearfully. 
His  age  is  thirty-four,  but  long  service  in  the  field  has 
bronzed  him  into  the  appearance  of  forty.  He  heartily 
despises  a  council  of  war,  and  never  forms  part  of  one 
if  he  can  avoid  it.  He  executes,  not  originates  plans  \ 
or,  as  Rosecrans  once  expressed  it,  '  He  fights — he 
fights ! '  Whatever  is  given  Sheridan  to  do  is  accom- 
plished thoroughly.  He  will  not  slop  to  criticize  the  prac- 
ticability of  an  order  in  its  details,  but  does  not  hesitate  to 
vary  his  movements  when  he  finds  those  laid  down  for 
him  are  not  practicable.  He  does  not  abandon  the  task 
because  the  mode  which  has  been  ordered  is  rendered 
impossible  by  any  unexpected  event.  If  the  result  is  ac- 
complished, Sheridan  does  not  care  whose  means  were 
employed,  or  on  whom  the  credit  is  reflected.  He  grasp? 
he  result  and  congratulates  himself,  the  strategist  of  th 
occasion,  and  the  men,  with  equal  gratification  and  every 
evidence  of  delight.  His  generous  "are  for  the  reputa- 
tion of  his  subordinates,  his  freedom  from  all  petty 


354  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHEKIDAN. 

jealousy,  his  honesty  of  purpose,  and  the  nobleness  of  his 
ambition  to  serve  the  country  and  not  himself,  his  genial- 
ity and  general  good-humor,  and  the  brevity  of  his  black 
storms  of  anger,  make  him,  like  Grant,  not  only  a  well- 
beloved  leader,  but  one  that  the  country  can  safely  trust  to 
guard  its  honor  and  preserve  its  existence.  It  is  easy  for 
one  who  knows  either  of  the  two — Grant  and  Sheridan — 
to  believe  it  possible  that,  during  all  the  period  in  which 
they  have  held  such  supreme  power  in  our  armies,  not  a 
single  thought  of  how  they  might  achieve  greatness, 
power,  and  position,  at  the  expense  of  country,  has  ever 
suggested  itself  to  their  minds.  There  is  only  one  other 
character  known  in  profane  history  of  whom  the  same 
thing  can  be  truly  said.  Sheridan  goes  into  the  heat  of 
battle  not  from  necessity  merely.  The  first  smell  of 
powder  arouses  him,  and  he  rushes  to  the  front  of  the 
field." 

The  following  history  of  a  fine  poem,  celebrating 
the  exploits  of  the  great  Cavalry  Chief,  together  with 
the  stirring  lyric,  will  close  our  narrative  of  the  gallant 
Sheridan's  career :  u  Mr.  Murdoch,  the  tragedian,  had 
devoted  himself  during  the  earlier  years  of  our  struggle, 
with  a  noble  and  self-sacrificing  patriotism,  to  'he  task 
of  raising  money  for  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and  all 
other  benevolent  projects  intended  for  the  benefit  of  4  our 
boys  in  blue.'  He  had  delivered  lectures  and  recitations 
all  over  the  country,  the  proceeds  going  to  the  objects  we 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  355 

have  named  ;  and  at  length,  as  the  war  was  drawing  tow- 
ard its  close,  his  numerous  friends  in  Chicago  proposed  a 
magnificent  ovation  for  Mr.  Murdoch's  own  benefit — his 
finances  having  somewhat  suffered  from  his  unselfish  and 
unsparing  efforts  in  the  cause  of  the  soldier  and  the  coun- 
try. At  breakfast  on  the  morning  of  the  benefit  night,  Mr. 
Murdoch,  who  was  staying  at  Mr.  Thomas  Buchanan 
Read's  house  (and  who  had  been  chiefly,  or  at  least 
very  largely,  reciting  Mr.  Read's  noble  lyrics  and  battle 
sketches  during  the  two  years  preceding),  remarked  to 
his  poet  friend  :  '  I'm  sorry,  Read,  that  you  did  not  give 
me  some  original  poem  for  to-night.  Something  new 
and  fresh  that  would  arouse  the  audience  and  set  the 
blood  leaping  through  my  own  veins  as  I  spoke.  The 
fact  is,  I  feel  rather  a  dread  of  this  occasion ;  and  with- 
out some  stimulus  of  the  kind  cannot  speak  as  well  for 
myself  as  I  did  for  others/  Mr.  Read  suggested  that 
it  was  not  yet  too  late.  If  Murdoch  really  wished  it, 
he  would  try  his  hand  at  something  new.  Murdoch, 
however,  persisted  that  it  was  too  late — firstly,  because 
poets  cannot  always  write  to  order ;  and  secondly,  be- 
cause he,  Murdoch,  would  require  some  hours  to  study 
whatever  Mr.  Read — even  1n  the  brief  space  allowed 
him — might  find  his  Muse  willing  to  offer.  l  Neverthe- 
less,' said  Read,  c  I'll  try.  That  Ride  of  Sheridan's  from 
Winchester  to  Cedar  Creek  we  have  been  just  reading 
about  gives  me  a  subject ;  and  if  you  stay  here  some  few 


356  LIFE   OF   GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

hours,  Fll  run  up  to  my  library  and  see  what  can  be 
done.'  In  less  than  three  hours  he  returned  to  the 
breakfast  parlor  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  trage- 
dian, equally  delighted  and  astonished,  the  perfect  manu- 
script of  that  noblest  and  most  fiery  of  all  our  war-songs, 
'  Phil.  Sheridan's  Ride.'  "  : 

SHERIDAN'S    RIDE. 

Up  from  the  South  at  break  of  day, 

Bringing  from  Winchester  fresh  dismay, 
The  affrighted  air  with  a  shudder  bore, 
Like  a  herald  in  haste,  to  the  chieftain's  door, 
The  terrible  grumble,  and  rumble,  and  roar, 
Telling  the  battle  was  on  once  more, 
.  And  Sheridan  twenty  miles  away. 

And  wider  still  those  billows  of  war 

Thundered  along  the  horizon's  bar ; 

And  louder  yet  into  Winchester  rolled 

The  roar  of  that  red  sea  uncontrolled, 

Making  the  blood  of  the  listener  cold, 

As  he  thought  of  the  stake  in  that  fiery  fray, 

And  Sheridan  twenty  miles  away. 

But  there  is  a  road  from  Winchester  town, 

A  good  broad  highway  leading  down ; 

And  there,  through  the  flush  of  the  morning  light, 

A  steed  as  black  as  the  steeds  of  night 

Was  seen  to  pass,  as  with  eagle  flight, 

As  if  he  knew  the  terrible  need ; 

He  stretched  away  with  his  utmost  speed ; 


LIFE   OF   GENERAL   SHEEIDAN  357 

Hills  rose  and  fell ;  but  his  heart  was  gay, 
With  Sheridan  fifteen  miles  away. 

Still  sprung  from  those  swift  hoofs,  thundering  South, 
The  dust,  like  smoke  from  the  cannon's  mouth ; 
Or  the  trail  of  a  comet,  sweeping  faster  and  faster, 
Foreboding  to  traitors  the  doom  of  disaster. 
The  heart  of  the  steed  and  the  heart  of  the  master 
Were  beating  like  prisoners  assaulting  their  walls, 
Impatient  to  be  where  the  battle-field  calls  ; 
Every  nerve  of  the  charger  was  strained  to  full  play, 
With  Sheridan  only  ten  miles  away. 

Under  his  spurning  feet  the  road 

Like  an  arrowy  Alpine  river  flowed, 

And  the  landscape  sped  away  behind 

Like  an  ocean  flying  before  the  wind, 

And  the  steed,  like  a  bark  fed  with  furnace  ira» 

Swept  on,  with  his  wild  eye  full  of  fire. 

But  lo !  he  is  nearing  his  heart's  desire ; 

He  is  snuffing  the  smoke  of  the  roaring  fraj, 

With  Sheridan  only  five  miles  away. 

The  first  that  the  General  saw  were  the  groups 

Of  stragglers,  and  then  the  retreating  troops, 

What  was  done  ?  what  to  do  ?  a  glance  told  him  both, 

Then  striking  his  spurs,  with  a  terrible  oath, 

He  dashed  down  the*  line,  'mid  a  storm  of  huzzas, 

And  the  wave  of  retreat  checked  its  cours?  there,  because 

The  sight  of  the  master  compelled  it  to  pause. 

With  foam  and  with  dust  the  black  charger  was  gray  ; 


S58  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

By  the  flash  of  his  eye,  and  the  red  nostril's  pkj 
Iis  seemed  to  the  whole  great  army  to  say, 
u  I  have  brought  you  Sheridan  all  the  way 
From  Winchester,  down  to  save  the  day  1 " 

Hurrah  !  hurrah  for  Sheridan  ! 

Hurrah  !  hurrah  for  horse  and  man  ! 

And  when  their  statues  are  placed  on  high, 

Under  the  dome  of  the  Union  sky, 

The  American  soldiers'  Temple  of  Fame ; 

There  with  the  glorious  General's  name, 

Be  it  said,  in  letters  both  bold  and  bright, 

"  Here  is  the  steed  that  saved  the  day, 
By  carrying  Sheridan  into  the  fight, 

From  Winchester,  twenty  miles  away  !  * 

In  1869,  General  Sheridan  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant-General,  vice  Sherman,  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  General,  —  positions  which  both  these 
able  soldiers  fill  entirely  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
whole  country. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

General  Sheridan's  Career  in  Peace  —Promotion  and  Last  Days. 

INCE  the  4th  of  March,  1869,  when  General  Sher- 
idan was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-gen- 
eral, and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Division  of 
the  Missouri,  including  the  Departments  of  Dakota, 
of  the  Platte,  and  of  Texas,  with  his  headquarters 
at  Chicago,  the  life  of  the  great  cavalry  chieftain  was  that 
of  an  officer  of  high  rank  in  the  army  of  the  United  States 
in  time  of  peace.  The  people  looked  upon  General  Sheri- 
dan as  one  of  the  triumvirate  of  great  generals  of  America, 
linked  in  honor  with  Grant  and  'Sherman.  The  stormy 
scenes  through  which  he  passed  as  the  heroic  leader  of  the 
cavalry  forces  of  the  Union  Army  were  transmuted  into 
the  quietude  of  official  and  routine  affairs,  and  the  adminis- 
tration of  military  duties  of  an  executive  character.  These 
years  of  peaceful  prosperity  to  the  country  enabled  the 
authorities  to  reduce  the  army  to  its  minimum  standard,  and, 
instead  of  the  mighty  hosts  which  made  up  the  armies  of  the 
United  States  when  General  Sheridan  was  making  an  im- 
359 


360  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

mortal  record  for  his  country  and  for  himself,  only  a  few 
thousand  men,  distributed  over  our  vast  country,  have  been 
left  to  form  the  nucleus  of  our  military  power,  for  defence 
against  enemies  at  home  or  abroad.  The  achievements  of 
General  Sheridan  in  his  country's  behalf,  and  his  exalted 
station  in  its  military  councils,  justly  entitled  him  to  leisure 
and  the  opportunities  of  visiting  different  parts  of  our  own 
and  foreign  countries.  During  the  war  between  France  and 
Germany,  in  1870-71,  General  Sheridan  visited  Europe,  and 
was  present  as  an  interested  spectator  at  several  of  the  most 
famous  conflicts  between  the  armies  of  these  nations,  re- 
ceiving on  all  occasions  the  attention  and  consideration  to 
which  his  eminent  rank  and  abilities  entitled  him.  His 
visit  abroad  was  highly  enjoyed,  and  gave  to  our  hero  the 
opportunities  for  examination  into  the  military  systems  of 
the  old  world  which  he  so  much  desired,  and  an  acquaint- 
ance with  foreign  rulers  and  commanders  of  other  coun- 
tries. It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  General  Sheridan, 
while  an  honored  guest  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Prussian 
army,  on  two  great  occasions,  at  the  battles  of  Gravelotte 
and  Sedan,  discovered  critical  moments  before  the  command- 
ing general,  Yon  Moltke,  or  any  of  his  staff,  were  aware  of 
the  situation.  At  the  battle  of  Gravelotte,  the  koenig,  Von 
Moltke,  Bismarck,  and  the  brilliantly  attired  staff,  were  stand- 
ing on  an  eminence  which  was  much  exposed  to  the  enemy's 
guns,  when  General  Sheridan  concluded  from  the  clouds  of 
dust  he  saw  in  the  rear  of  the  French  lines  that  they  were 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  361 

rapidly  moving  by  the  left  flank,  and  that  their  artillery 
would  soon  sweep  the  hill  where  the  distinguished  generals 
and  officials  were  standing.  Sheridan  quietly  informed  the 
koenig  and  the  others,  and  indicated  that  he  should  seek  a 
place  more  safe.  Within  fifteen  minutes  after  Sheridan 
gave  the  warning,  the  French  artillery  opened  lire  upon  the 
hill.  Again,  at  Sedan,  Sheridan  discovered  first  that  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  had  in  his  desperation  taken  the  field, 
and  was  endeavoring  by  his  personal  presence  to  save  the 
day,  which  was  clearly  going  against  the  French.  These 
instances  show  Sheridan's  remarkable  quickness  in  seeing 
essential  points  at  the  right  time  in  the  hour  of  battle, 
which  is  one  of  the  highest  characteristics  of  a  great  com- 
mander. By  these  quick  perceptions  he  did  eminent  ser- 
vice on  many  occasions  during  the  Rebellion,  and  these 
traits  won  for  him  the  admiration  of  Yon  Moltke,  which 
was  increased  when  he  came  to  see  the  genius  of  Sheridan, 
as  exhibited  by  his  observations  on  German  and  on  French 
strategy  and  fighting.  When  General  Sheridan  returned 
from  abroad,  after  witnessing  the  Franco-German  war,  his 
friends  recognized  that  his  powers  had  never  been  fully  de- 
veloped, and  that  he  had  military  gifts  of  the  very  highest 
order.  It  was  his  nature  to  do  with  his  might  what  his 
hands  found  to  do.  He  knew  all  about  the  army  posts. 
He  gave  great  thought  to  the  Indian  problem  ;  he  gave  at- 
tention to  the  efficiency  of  the  army,  and  organized  camps 
and  schools  for  instruction.  On  an  historic  occasion  at 


362  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

Chicago,  the  full  force  and  mighty  impulse  of  Sheridan's 
character  were  shown  in  resplendent  power,  —  the  time 
when  the  hearts  of  Chicago's  people  were  appalled  by  the 
magnitude  of  the  great  fire  which  devastated  that  city.  He 
took  matters  into  his  own  hands,  and  developed  the  greatest 
energy,  and  bent  everything  to  his  unconquerable  will.  He 
maintained  law  and  order,  infused  the  most  daring  cour- 
age, and  accepted  any  responsibility,  enforcing  his  orders 
in  a  manner  which  seemed  for  the  moment  to  bring  forth 
all  the  tremendous  energy  which  was  hidden  away  for  just 
such  an  emergency. 

General  Sheridan's  abilities,  military  education,  and 
experience,  added  to  his  native  quickness  to  fully  compre- 
hend men  and  situations,  enabled  him  to  gain  much  valu- 
able information,  and  his  travels  abroad  formed  an 
interesting  feature  of  his  career  in  the  happy  times  of 
profound  peace,  to  the  accomplishment  of  which  he  had 
contributed  so  largely. 

During  the  political  disturbances  in  Louisiana,  in  1875, 
General  Sheridan  was  sent  by  President  Grant  to  New 
Orleans,  where  he  was  instrumental  in  restoring  quiet  and 
allaying  animosities  engendered  by  political  excitements. 
The  election  of  General  Grant  to  the  Presidency,  in  1869, 
left  to  General  William  T.  Sherman  the  position  of  General 
of  the  Army  of  the  United  States;  and,  on  the  latter's 
retirement,  November  1,  1883,  General  Sheridan,  by  direc- 
tion of  President  Arthur,  assumed  the  chief  command,  with 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  363 

headquarters  at  Washington,  holding  the  title  of  Lieutenant- 
General .  During  nearly  five  years  he  held  the  supreme 
command  of  our  Army  as  Lieutenant-General,  devoting 
what  time  he  could  spare  from  his  official  duties  to  travel 
in  various  sections  of  the  country,  receiving  on  all  occa- 
sions the  most  cordial  greetings  from  the  people,  and  from 
their  highest  officials,  state  and  municipal.  They  saw  in 
him  the  true  patriot,  the  dauntless  military  hero,  the  dar- 
ing and  impetuous  general,  whose  personality  and  unerring 
Judgment  in  time  of  danger  and  disaster  could  turn  an 
army,  routed  and  defeated,  back  upon  its  foe,  and  win 
triumphs  of  which  poets  have  sung,  and  statesmen  paid 
tribute  in  words  of  eloquent  appreciation.  But  there 
still  remained  new  honors  for  General  Sheridan.  The 
title  of  General  had  been  conferred  only  upon  Grant  and 
Sherman  in  the  entire  history  of  our  country,  and  Sheridan, 
of  the  trio  of  matchless  heroes  of  the  Civil  War,  alone 
remained  to  receive  the  highest  rank  known  to  our  military 
annals.  .In  the  latter  part  of  May,  1888,  General  Sheridan 
visited  the  West,  upon  official  duties,  travelling  continu- 
ously for  nearly  a  week,  returning  to  Washington  much 
exhausted,  and  was  obliged  at  once  to  take  to  his  bed.  It 
was  well  known  to  his  physician,  and  to  his  family  and 
near  friends,  that  he  had  suffered  from  an  organic  diffi- 
culty of  the  heart  for  several  years,  but  his  weakness  had 
not  given  indications  of  an  early  ending  of  his  life.  While 
Lieutenant-General  Sheridan  was  on  his  death-bed,  the 


364  LIFE, OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

Congress,  without  regard  to  party  predilections,  considered 
the  conferring  upon  him  of  the  title  of  General.  The  poor 
lad  of  obscure  beginnings,  who  had  risen  step  by  step 
through  the  military  grades  of  his  country,  performing  his 
duties  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  all  his  superiors,  was 
now,  as  the  last  and  crowning  act  of  his  grateful  country, 
to  be  made  a  General  of  the  Army.  In  the  presence  of 
death,  while  the  grim  messenger  was  waiting  at  his  bed- 
side, and  the  splendid  fighter  and  brilliant  leader  upon 
many  an  historic  field  was  making  his  last  battle  for  life, 
the  Congress,  on  the  first  day  of  June,  1888,  revived  the 
grade  of  General,  which  was  limited  to  Grant  and  Sher- 
man. The  President  of  the  United  States  at  once  nomi- 
nated Sheridan  to  the  place,  and  he  was  immediately 
confirmed  by  the  Senate,  and  sworn  in  to  his  office,  the 
entire  proceeding  having  been  accomplished  in  three  and 
one-half  hours,  an  unprecedented  celerity  on  the  part  of 
the  Congress,  except  in  the  case  of  General  Grant,  at  the 
time  he  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  of  the  army.  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  accepted  the  honor  in  a  letter,  which  he 
dictated  to  his  secretary.  The  office  of  Lieutenant-Genera] 
expired  with  Sheridan's  promotion. 

The  recognition  of  his  great  services  to  his  country  and 
to  mankind,  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  by 
the  President,  in  the  reviving  of  the  rank  of  General  of  the 
Army,  and  the  prompt  conferring  of  the  same  upon  him- 
self, as  he  lay  upon  what  proved  to  be  his  death-bed,  gave 


f 
LIFE   OF    GENERAL   SHERIDAN.  365 


-o  the  dying  Sheridan  the  most  heartfelt  pleasure.  It 
was  .an  honor  which  he  deserved,  but  one  which  he  was 
o  enjoy  but  for  a  brief  period.  Senators  Hawley  and 
Manderson  carried  the  commission  to  the  bedside  of  Gen- 
eral Sheridan,  and  veiy  soon  after  its  receipt  he  took  the 
oath  of  office  and  issued  the  following  general  order  —  his 
first  and  last  official  act  as  General  of  the  United  States 
Army :  — 

GENERAL  ORDER  No.  37. 

HEADQUABTEBS  OF  THE  ARMY,     ) 

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  > 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Juno  1,  1888. J 

1.  The  following  named  officers  are  appointed  aides-de- 
camp on  the  staff  of  the  general  ^of  the  army,  with  the  rank 
of  colonel,  to  date  from  this  day:  Major  Michael  V.  Sheri- 
dan,    assistant     adjutant-general;     Captain     Stanford    C. 
Kellogg,   Fifth   Cavalry;    Captain  Stanhope  Blunt,  Ordi- 
nance Department. 

2.  In  addition  to  his  duties  as  aide-de-camp,   Colonel 
Blunt  will  continue  to  perform  the  duty  of  inspector  of 
rifle  practice  at  headquarters  of  the  Army. 

By  command  of  GENERAL  SHERIDAN. 

R.  C.  Drum,  adjutant-general  (official)  ;  J.  C.  Kelton, 
assistant  adjutant-general. 

Tho  depressing  influence  of  the  extremely  hot  weather  of 
the  National  Capital  determined  his  family  and  physicians 
to  remove  General  Sheridan  to  the  coast  of  Massachusetts, 
and  the  United  States  man-of-war  Swatara  was  selected  to 


366  LIFE   OF    GENERAL   SHEKIDAN. 

convey  him  thence.  About  the  first  of  July,  1888,  the  Swa- 
tara  steamed  down  the  Potomac  on  her  important  mission, 
which  was  to  carefully  land  General  Sheridan  and  family  at 
their  summer  cottage  at  Nonquitt,  Massachusetts.  At  last, 
on  July  eighth,  after  a  tedious  voyage  of  eight  days,  the 
Swatara  arrived,  anchored  in  sight  of  the  General's  desti- 
nation, and  he  was  soon  safely  ensconced  in  his  little 
cottage  by  the  sea,  where  he  had  been  brought  in  the 
hope  that  absolute  quiet  and  the  sweet,  cool  air  would 
strengthen  the  slender  thread  by  which  his  life  was  held. 
But,  alas !  the  fondest  hopes  of  the  devoted  wife  and  of 
the  physicians,  with  which  commingled  the  tender  sym- 
pathy of  his  grateful  countrymen,  were  not  to  be  real- 
ized. Sheridan's  last  grim  foe  was  to  claim  the  victory  over 
the  great  chieftain,  and,  while  all  tidings  had  been  reassur- 
ing that  at  least  the  fateful  hour  was  not  close  at  hand,  like 
the  "  thief  in  the  night "  came  the  final  summons.  He  who 
was  so  invincible  on  so  many  gory  fields ;  who  could  inspire 
his  troops  to  almost  superhuman  action  upon  the  battlefield ; 
whose  courage  never  failed,  and  whose  presence  in  the 
midst  of  his  troops  filled  them  with  feelings  of  heroic  en- 
thusiasm, was  to  follow  the  common  lot,  as  had  Lincoln  and 
Grant,  and  the  patriotic  host  of  leaders  of  the  Union  cause  ; 
and  on  the  fifth  day  of  August,  1888,  at  the  close  of  the  Sab- 
bath, when  all  was  peace  and  calm  within  and  without,  in 
the  fifty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  Sheridan  breathed  his  last, 
in  the  quiet  retreat  of  Nonquitt,  near  New  Bedford,  Mass- 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  367 

aclmsetts,  mourned  as  have  been  few  men  in  the  history  of 
the  human  family.  About  his  brilliant  career  will  cling 
always  a  romantic  interest,  drawn  forth  by  the  fascination 
of  his  dashing  and  intrepid  qualities  as  a  military  leader. 

His  great  abilities  received  from  General  Grant  the  high- 
est praise.  When  asked  if  there  could  be  found  in  Europe 
a  better  soldier  than  Sheridan,  he  replied,  emphatically, 
"No,  there  isn't  a  better  soldier  in  the  world  than  Phil  Sher- 
idan." After  a  long  meditative  pause,  he  again  asserted, 
44  The  world  never  saw  a  better  soldier  than  Phil  Sheridan." 
Such  testimony  from  the  most  eminent  General  in  America, 
or,  indeed,  in  the  world,  was  as  noble  and  just  a  tribute  to 
his  genius  and  prowess  as  could  be  bestowed. 

Like  Grant,  Sheridan  prepared  his  "Personal  Memoirs." 
Until  nearly  his  forty-fifth  year,  General  Sheridan  remained 
a  bachelor.  In  June,  1875,  he  was  married  at  Chicago  to 
Miss  Irene  Rucker,  the  second  daughter  of  General  Daniel 
II.  Rucker,  one  of  his  much-beloved  staff  officers,  and  four 
children  are  the  result  of  this  marriage. 

In  his  private  life  General  Sheridan  was  unassuming  and 
companionable,  and  modest  in  the  estimate  of  his  own 
achievements,  while  it  delighted  him  to  give  due  praise 
to  those  who  had  been  associated  with  him  in  army  life. 

He  passed  away  leaving  an  unsullied  fame  as  one  of  the 
prominent  benefactors  of  his  country,  at  a  time  of  its  great- 
est peril ;  and  his  name  and  record  will  live  in  its  annals  as 
long  as  the  republic  itself  shall  endure. 


368  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence  of  General  Sheridan's 
death,  the  President  issued  the  following  order  :  — 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,         ) 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Aug.  G,  1888.  ) 

As  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  General  Sheridan, 
the  President  directs  that  the  national  flag  be  displayed  at 
half-mast  on  all  the  buildings  of  the  executive  departments 
in  the  city  of  Washington,  until  after  his  funeral  shall  have 
taken  place.  By  direction  of  the  President. 

DANIEL  S.  LAMONT,  Private  Secretary. 

At  twelve  o'clock;  August  6,  the  President  sent  this  mes- 
sage to  the  Congress  then  assembled  at  the  Capitol :  — 

To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives :  — 

It  becomes  my  painful  duty  to  announce  to  the  Congress 
and  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  the  death  of  Philip  II. 
Sheridan,  General  of  the  Army,  which  occurred  at  a  late  hour 
last  night,  at  his  summer  home  in  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts. The  death  of  this  valiant  soldier  and  patriotic  son  of 
the  Republic,  though  his  long  illness  has  been  regarded  with 
anxiety,  has,  nevertheless,  shocked  the  country  and  caused 
universal  grief.  lie  had  established  for  himself  a  strong 
hold  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow-countrymen,  who  soon 
caught  the  true  meaning  and  purpose  of  his  soldierly  devo- 
tion and  heroic  temper. 

His  intrepid  courage,  his  steadfast  patriotism,  and  the 
generosity  of  his  nature  inspired  with  peculiar  warmth  the 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  369 

admiration  of  all  the  people.  Above  his  grave,  affection 
for  the  man  and  pride  in  his  achievements  will  struggle  for 
mastery,  and  too  much  honor  cannot  be  accorded  to  one 
who  was  so  richly  endowed  with  all  the  qualities  which 

make  his  death  a  national  loss. 

GROVER  CLEVELAND. 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  Aug.  6,  1888. 

As  a  mark  of  respect,  after  the  reading  of  the  President's 
message,  both  Houses  of  Congress  adjourned.  The  Secre- 
tary of  War,  the  Hon.  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachu- 
setts, issued  the  following  announcement  to  the  Army :  — 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
WASHINGTON,  Aug.  6,  1888.  ) 

With  profound  sorrow  the  Secretary  of  War  announces  to 
the  Army  that  General  Sheridan  died  last  evening  at  Non- 
quitt,  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 

He  was  born  March  6,  1831.  Upon  graduating  from 
West  Point  he  entered  the  army,  July  1,  1853,  as  brevet  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  the  First  Infantry.  His  first  service  was 
on  the  frontier  of  Texas  ;  then  in  Oregon  and  California, 
engaged  against  hostile  Indians  in  the  Yakima  expedition, 
and  the  defence  of  the  Cascades.  In  1861,  having  reached 
the  grade  of  captain  in  the  Thirteenth  Infantry,  he  was 
placed  on  duty  as  chief  quartermaster,  and  commissary  of 
the  army  under  Major-General  Curtis,  in  the  Pea  Ridge  cam- 
paign ;  and  subsequently  as  quartermaster  at  Major-General 
Halleck's  headquarters  in  the  advance  on  Corinth,  Missis- 
sippi. 


370  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN, 

He  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Second  Michigan  cav- 
alry May  25,  1862;  brigadier-general  of  volunteers  July 
1,  and  major-general  of  volunteers  December  31  of  the 
same  year,  having  participated  with  distinction  in  numer- 
ous engagements  in  the  Armies  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Cum- 
berland, until  April  4,  18G4,  when  he  was  selected  to  com- 
mand the  Cavalry  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
subsequently  the  Middle  Military  Division  and  the  Army  of 
the  Shenanduah.  For  the  gallantry,  military  skill  and 
courage  displayed  in  the  brilliant  series  of  victories 
achieved  by  his  army  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  es- 
pecially at  Cedar  Run,  he  received  the  thanks  of  Congress, 
and  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  the  Army  of  the 
United  States,  September  20,  1864 ;  and  November  8,  1864, 
was  promoted  to  Major  General,  U.  S.  Army,  «*  for  the  per- 
sonal gallantly,  military  skill,  and  just  confidence  in  the 
courage  and  patriotism  of  his  troops  displayed  by  him  on 
the  19th  day  of  October  at  Cedar  Run,  whereby,  under  the 
blessing  of  Providence,  his  routed  army  was  reorganized, 
a  great  national  disaster  averted  and  a  brilliant  victory 
achieved  over  the  rebels,  for  the  third  time,  in  pitched  bat- 
tle, within  thirty  days."  In  the  final  campaign,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  surrender  of  General  Lee's  Army,  he  bore  a 
distinguished  part.  Since  the  close  of  the  war  he  com- 
manded successively  the  Military  Division  of  the  South- 
west, the  Gulf,  the  Fifth  Military  District,  the  Department 
of  the  Missouri,  and  the  Division  of  the  Missouri.  He  was 


LIFE   OF    GENERAL  SHERIDAN.  371 

appointed  lieutenant-general  March  4,  1869,  and  assumed 
the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States  November 
1,  1883.  In  recognition  of  his  military  services,  the  grade 
of  General  was  revived  by  Congress,  to  which  he  was  ap- 
pointed June  1,  1888.  These  achievements  placed  him  in 
the  front  rank  of  the  great  and  successful  soldiers  of  his 
time,  and  are  recognized  and  acknowledged  at  home  and 
abroad.  To  the  Army  his  loss  is  personal  and  irreparable, 
but  the  work  that  he  did  and  the  associations  that  cluster 
about  his  name  will  be  a  grateful  memory  to  its  older  and 
inspiration  to  its  younger  officers. 

After  quoting  the  President's  message  to  both  houses  of 
Congress,  officially  announcing  General  Sheridan's  death, 
the  order  closes  as  follows :  — 

The  flag  will  be  placed  at  half-mast  at  all  military  posts 
and  stations,  17  minute  guns  will  be  fired  on  the  day  after 
receipt  of  this  order,  and  the  usual  badges  of  mourning 
will  be  worn  for  the  period  of  six  months. 
By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

R.  C.  DRUM,  Adjutant-General. 
Official,  THOMAS  WARD,  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

Not  alone  were  the  President,  the  Congress,  and  the  chief 
officials  of  the  Army  in  paying  homage  to  the  memory  of 
the  chivalrous  warrior.  The  resolutions  by  his  comrades  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  the  official  action  of 
leading  cities  of  the  country;  the  tolling  of  bells;  the 


372  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

dirges;  memorial  addresses;  the  universal  expression  of 
the  press;  the  feeling  tributes  by  statesmen;  the  tearful 
silence  of  the  multitudes,  who,  with  uncovered  heads, 
showed  plainly  their  inward  grief ;  —  these  all  bore  fitting 
testimony  to  the  deep  and  ever-abiding  appreciation  felt 
for  the  dead  hero.  The  Governor  and  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts gave  evidence  of  becoming  reverence  for  the  dust 
of  him  whom  they  had  honored  while  he  was  living.  On 
the  eighth  of  August,  a  dull,  gray  day,  the  appearance  of 
which  was  in  keeping  with  the  sombreness  of  quiet  Non- 
quitt,  the  body  of  General  Sheridan  was  taken  from  his 
cottage,  and  the  solemn  journey  to  Washington  —  to  the 
beautiful  Arlington  National  Cemetery  —  was  begun;  and 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  the  funeral  party  arrived 
at  the  Capital,  being  received  with  suitable  military  honors, 
and  escorted  to  St.  Matthew's  Church,  preparatory  to  the 
last  burial  rites.  The  successor  in  the  command  of  the 
Army,  with  the  guard  of  honor  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and 
other  distinguished  bodies  were  present.  As  the  body 
reached  the  church  door  it  was  met  by  a  procession  of 
the  clergy  and  the  sanctuary  boys,  who  sang  the  Miserere. 
After  the  casket  had  been  placed  upon  the  catafalque,  the 
preliminary  burial  service  was  recited,  the  choir  singing 
a  funeral  hymn.  The  interior  of  the  church  was  effectively 
draped  with  the  American  colors,  blended  with  the  sombre 
shades  of  heavy  folds  of  crape. 
The  .invitations  to  the  obsequies  were  issued  from  Army 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEItlDAN.  373 

headquarters.  They  were  engraved  on  note  paper  with  a 
heavy  black  border,  and  read  as  follows  :  — 

"  You  are  invited  to  be  present  at  the  funeral  ceremonies 
in  honor  of  General  Sheridan,  which  will  take  place  at  St. 
Matthew's  Church,  Washington,  at  10  o'clock,  on  the 
morning  of  Saturday,  the  llth  of  August." 

The  invitations  were  accompanied  by  a  card  of  admission 
which  contained  the  following :  — 

"Admit  bearer  to  funeral  ceremonies  of  General  Sheri- 
dan, at  St.  Matthew's  Church,  at  ten  o'clock  A.M.,  on  Satur- 
day, the  llth  of  August.  Please  be  in  the  church  at  least 
ten  minutes  before  ten  o'clock." 

Among  those  invited  to  the  funeral  were  President  and 
Mrs.  Cleveland,  the  members  of  the  cabinet  and  the  ladies 
of  their  families,  the  judges  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  the  judges  of  the  local  courts,  the  members  of  the 
diplomatic  corps,  the  members  of  the  Senate  and  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  the  elective  officers  of  both 
Houses,  all  the  members  of  the  Catholic  clergy  in  Wash- 
ington, all  officers  of  the  Army,  Navy,  and  marine  corps 
stationed  in  Washington,  twenty-five  comrades  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  twenty-five  of  the  Loyal 
Legion,  eighty  members  of  the  press,  and  a  large  number 
of  personal  friends  of  the  family.  The  total  number  of 
invitations  issued  was  one  thousand  and  five  hundred,  and 
no  person  was  admitted  to  the  church  without  a  card  of 
admission. 


374  LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

General  Sheridan's  funeral  took  place  at  St.  Matthew's 
Catholic  Church,  on  Saturday,  the  eleventh  day  of  August, 
1888.  The  regular  parochial  mass  was  celebrated  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  half-past  seven  Cardinal 
Gibbons  officiated  at  high  mass.  The  burial  casket  con- 
taining the  remains  of  the  beloved  General  was  mounted 
on  a  catafalque  in  front  of  the  main  altar,  the  head  facing 
the  crucifix  and  Blessed  Sacrament.  Upon  the  centre  of 
the  top  of  the  casket  was  a  solid  silver  plate  bearing  this 
inscription :  — 


GENERAL  UNITED  STATES  ARMY, 
BORN,    MARCH    6,    1831. 
DIED,    AUGUST    5,     1888. 


Within  the  sanctuaiy  rails  sat  Cardinal  Gibbons  upon  his 
pontifical  throne,  attended  by  several  bishops  and  other 
ecclesiastical  dignitaries.  The  scene  was  grandly  solemn 
and  impressive.  Cardinal  Gibbons  delivered  a  touching 
and  eloquent  eulogy  on  the  character  and  virtues  of  the 
great  soldier,  which  made  a  profound  and  visible  impres- 
sion upon  the  gathering  of  distinguished  personages  who 
had  assembled  to  witness  the  last  rites. 
The  cardinal  said,  in  his  exemplary  life,  General  Sheri- 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHEKIDAN.  375 

dan  had  lent  a  powerful  vindication  to  the  immortal 
truth  that  successful  commanders  in  all  countries  and  in  all 
ages  were  those  who  were  sustained  by  an  unwavering 
faith  in  Almighty  God,  and  who  were  devoted  soldiers  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Without  that,  all  their  labors,  all  their 
battles  won,  all  their  triumphs,  were  in  vain. 

He  spoke  briefly,  calling  attention  to  the  fact  that, 
although  the  deceased  won  his  reputation  in  a  war  between 
sections,  the  whole  united  country  now  join  in  paying 
tribute  to  him.  Pie  referred  to  his  modesty,  and  his  ex- 
pression of  hope  in  later  years  that  wars  might  be  averted 
by  peaceful  methods,  and  also  his  affection  for  his  family. 
Sheridan,  he  said,  was  a  Christian  man  and  died  in  the 
humble  hope  of  a  blissful  immortality.  He  closed  with 
words  of  consolation  to  the  family. 

The  sermon  was  followed  by  the  Gregorian  chant  and 
prayers  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of  the  dead,  read  by 
Cardinal  Gibbons,  assisted  by  attendant  priests,  and  closed 
with  the  benediction  services  at  half-past  eleven. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  mass,  the  procession  was 
again  formed  in  the  main  aisle  and  the  body  was  borne 
upon  an  artillery  caisson,  heavily  draped,  which  was  used 
instead  of  a  hearse.  The  casket  was  borne  to  the  caisson 
by  the  following  pall-bearers:  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  Mar- 
shall Field  of  Chicago,  General  Ilawley,  Speaker  Carlisle, 
Frank  Thompson,  vice-president  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road; Gen.  Wesley  Merritt,  U.S.A.,  the  senior  officer  of 


376  LIFE   OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia; Secretary  Whitney,  General  McFeeley,  Gen.  Joseph 
Fullerton  of  St.  Louis,  Secretary  Endicott,  and  George  W. 
Chikls. 

As  soon  as  the  remains  were  deposited  on  the  caisson, 
the  funeral  procession  formed  and  marched  to  the  Arling- 
ton cemetery,  under  command  of  Colonel  Gibson.  Behind 
the  caisson,  with  the  remains,  a  sergeant  of  cavalry  led 
General  Sheridan's  horse,  bridled  and  saddled,  with  the 
General's  boots  hanging  at  the  side,  with  the  toes  pointing 
to  the  rear. 

General  Schofield  designated  the  troops  to  act  as  escort 
throughout  the  funeral,  and  had  entire  charge  of  the 
arrangements.  The  officers  of  General  Sheridan's  staff 
were  Gen.  J.  Forsyth,  Col.  George  W.  Davis,  Col.  John 
Schuyler  Crosby,  Col.  Fred  Grant,  Col.  James  F.  Gregory, 
and  Gen.  George  A.  Forsyth. 

The  services  at  the  grave,  which,  according  to  the  ritual 
of  the  Catholic  church,  are  very  brief  and  simple,  were 
conducted  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Fole^,  bishop-elect  of 
Detroit. 

The  salute  at  the  grave  consisted,  first,  of  seventeen  guns 
from  light  batteries,  and,  second,  three  salutes  of  musketry 
from  a  battalion  of  infantry,  followed  by  « '  taps  "  from  the 
cavalry  trumpet.  The  procession  was  formed  in  the  fol- 
lowing order :  A  battalion  of  cavalry,  batteries  of  light 
artillery,  the  Marine  Band,  the  Third  Artillery  Band,  a 


LIFE   OP    GENERAL    SHERIDAN.  377 

battalion  of  foot  artillery,  the  clergy  in  carriages,  pall- 
bearers in  carriages,  body  bearers,  artillery  sergeants,  the 
caisson  bearing  the  remains,  the  General's  horse,  Mrs. 
Sheridan  and  family,  General  Sheridan's  military  staff, 
President  Cleveland  and  family,  the  cabinet,  the  judiciary, 
the  congressional  committee,  the  diplomatic  corps,  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Loyal  Legion  and  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  followed  by  citizens. 

After  the  remains  of  General  Sheridan  were  laid  to  rest 
in  a  mound  on  the  crest  of  Arlington,  and  the  firing  squad 
took  their  position,  a  grand  scene  was  presented  to  the 
large  concourse  present. 

General  Sherman,  the  last  of  the  three  great  command- 
ers in  the  late  war,  on  the  Union  side,  took  the  colors,  and, 
unconscious  that  he  was  to  be  the  central  figure  of  the 
occasion,  stepped  aside  from  the  grave  a  short  distance, 
and,  leaning  against  the  flagstaff,  gazed  meditatively  and 
for  several  minutes  upon  the  work  of  the  artillery,  as 
round  after  round  was  fired ;  the  old  war  hero,  with  no 
one  near  him,  stood  out  like  a  silhouette  against  the  south- 
western sky,  his  profile  being  as  finely  outlined  as  a  bas- 
relief  in  marble.  For  several  minutes  he  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  vast  multitude,  and  often  were  his  words 
relating  to  the  early  death  of  Sheridan  and  Grant  quoted. 
Undoubtedly,  the  old  man  was  conjuring  again  in  his 
mind  the  problem  as  to  why  he,  the  oldest  of  the  trio, 
should  be  left  to  stand  upon  the  graves  of  his  comrades  in 


378         LIFE  OF  GENERAL  SHERIDAN. 

arms.    It  was  a  striking  picture,  of  which  General  Sherman 
was  the  central  figure. 

The  place  where  General  Sheridan  is  buried  is  at  the 
southern  edge  of  a  little  patch  of  open  ground  in  the  front 
of  the  old  mansion  house  of  the  Arlington  estate,  now 
known  as  the  Arlington  National  Cemetery.  The  smooth 
bit  of  turf,  a  short  stone's  throw  across,  slopes  gently  down 
from  the  main  driveway  in  front  of  the  house ;  it  is  bor- 
dered across  the  top  with  a  belt  of  flowers  in  which  the 
words  "Arlington  National  Cemetery"  are  spelled  out. 
•The  semicircular  edge  of  the  woods  completes  the  bound- 
ary. In  the  centre  stands  the  flagstaff.  The  slope  faces 
the  sunrise;  at  the  head  of  the  grave  stands  a  shapely 
horse  chestnut ;  on  the  right  hand,  a  tulip  poplar ;  on  the 
left,  a  maple.  The  space  marked  out  is  bare  of  trees  for 
some  distance  from  the  foot,  and,  when  a  monument  shall 
be  erected  there,  it  can  be  seen  from  the  windows  of  every 
public  building  in  Washington,  from  the  Capitol  to  the 
White  House.  Behind  the  spot  lie  the  bodies  of  upwards  of 
twelve  thousand  Union  soldiers,  the  men  who  died  in  camp 
along  the  Potomac,  the  slain  at  Bull  Run,  and  in  the  Wil- 
derness, and  many  a  spot  not  named  in  the  long  list  of 
encounters  between  the  brave  defenders  of  the  Union  and 
those  who  sought  its  destruction.  The  purpose  in  locating 
the  grave  to  one  side  rather  than  directly  in  front  of  the 
house  was  to  have  a  background  of  green  trees  from  which 
the  monument  would  stand  out  distinctly  to  the  view. 


LIFE    OF    GENERAL    SHERIDAN-  379 

The  foliage  of  the  trees  hides  all  except  a  few  of  the 
main  avenues  from  view,  and  softens  the  prevailing  brick- 
red  color  of  the  town.  On  the  one  hand,  the  big  white 
dome  of  the  Capitol  bulges  above  the  level  of  green 
and  red;  the  straight,  sharp  lines  of  the  Washington 
Monument  cut  clear  across  the  centre  of  the  picture, 
and  the  Executive  Mansion  and  the  Department  buildings 
scattered  about  pick  it  out  with  spots  of  white,  like  the  high 
lights  on  a  canvas;  the  Potomac,  steaming  in  the  sun, 
shows  itself  in  gleaming  patches  through  the  tree  tops  in 
the  foreground;  and  all  around  the  picture  is  the  green 
frame  of  woodland,  rising  with  softening  tints  to  the  purple 
hills  of  Maryland,  that  mark  the  limit  of  the  view. 

"  And  Jonathan  and  Simon  took  Judah  their  brother  and 
buried  him  in  the  sepulchre  of  their  fathers,  in  the  city  of 
Modin.  And  all  the  people  of  Israel  bewailed  him  with 
great  lamentation,  and  they  mourned  for  him  many  days, 
and  said,  How  is  the  mighty  fallen  that  saved  the  people  of 
Israel."  1  Mace.,  ix.  19-21. 

These  were  the  words  the  eloquent  Cardinal  Gibbons 
chose  for  his  text,  and  he  could  scarcely  have  found  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures  anything  more  appropriate  upon  which  to 
base  his  masterly  funeral  oration  and  accurate  estimate  of 
the  deeds  of  "Little  Phil."  And  all  the  people  of  the 
United  States  bewailed  him  with  great  lamentation  and 
they  mourned  for  him  many  days.  "Little  Phil "  of  the 
United  States  Army,  will  be  forever  a  favorite  theme  for 


380  LIFE   OP    GENERAL    SHERIDAN. 

all  who  admire  patriotism,  military  genius,  dauntless  cour- 
age, and  those  high  qualities  of  which  he  was  possessed, 
and  which  belong  only  to  the  great  of  earth ;  and  as  future 
generations  visit  the  beautiful  spot  where  his  body  lies 
buried,  it  will  be  only  to  gain  deeper  feelings  of  patriotism, 
nobler  ideas  of  what  loyalty  to  one's  country  means,  and  a 
higher  sense  of  the  worth  of  the  life  and  character  of 
Philip  H.  Sheridan. 


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•    .   •   •   •  T?  VOUNG  MEN  UND  WOMEN 


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LIFE  AND  DEEDS  OF  GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT 

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ERQES 

OF.  HISTORY 


By  GEORGE   MAKEPEACE  TOWLE. 

Handsomely  Illustrated.    Price  per  vol.,  $1.25.    Sets  tn  neat  boxes. 
VASCO     DA     GAMA: 

HIS     VOYAGES     AND     ADVENTURES. 

"  Da  Gama's  history  is  full  of  striking  adventures,  thrilling  incidents,  and 
perilous  situations;  and  Mr.  Towle,  while  not  sacrificing  historical  accuracy, 
jias  so  skilfully  used  his  materials,  that  we  have  a  charmingly  romantic  tale." 
—  Rural  New-Yorker. 

P  I  Z  A  R  R  O  : 
HIS    ADVENTURES     AND    CONQUESTS. 

*'  No  hero  of  romance  possesses  greater  power  to  charm  the  youthful  reader 
than  the  conqueror  of  Peru.  Not  even  King  Arthur,  or  Thaddeus  of  War- 
saw,  has  the  power  to  captivate  the  imagination  of  the  growing  boy.  Mr. 
Towle  has  handled  his  subject  in  a  glowing  but  truthful  manner;  and  we 
venture  the  assertion,  that,  were  our  children  led  to  read  such  books  as  this, 
the  taste  for  unwholesome,  exciting,  wrong-teaching  boys'  books—  dime 
novels  in  books'  clothing  —  would  be  greatly  diminished,  to  the  great  gain  of 
mental  force  and  moral  purpose  in  the  rising  generation."—  Chicago  Alliance. 

MAGELLAN; 

OR,  THE    FIRST   VOYAGE    ROUND    THE    WORLD. 

«'  What  more  of  romantic  and  spirited  adventures  any  bright  boy  could 
want  than  is  to  be  found  in  this  series  of  historical  biography,  it  is  difficult 
to  imagine.  This  volume  is  written  in  a  most  sprightly  manner;  and  the 
life  of  its  hero,  Fernan  Magellan,  with  its  rapid  stride  from  the  softness  of 
a  petted  youth  to  the  sturdy  courage  and  persevering  fortitude  of  manhood, 
makes  a  tale  of  marvellous  fascination."—  Christian  Union. 

MARCO     POLO: 

HIS  TRAVELS  AND  ADVENTURES. 
"The  Btory  of  the  adventurous  Venetian,  who  six  hundred  years  ago  pen* 
trated  into  India  and  Cathay  and  Thibet  and  Abyssinia,  is  pleasantly  and 
clearly  told;  and  nothing  better  can  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  school  boy 
or  girl  than  this  series  of  the  records  of  noted  travellers.  The  heroism  dis- 
played  by  these  men  was  certainly  as  great  as  that  ever  shown  by  conquering 
warrior  ;  and  it  was  exercised  in  a  far  nobler  cause,  —  the  cause  of  knowledge 
and  discovery,  which  has  made  the  nineteenth  century  what  it  is."  --Graphic. 

RALEGH:  . 

HIS    EXPLOITS    AND    VOYAGES. 

"This  belongs  to  the  '  Young  Folks'  Heroes  of  History  '  series,  and  deals 
with  a  greater  and  more  interesting  man  than  any  of  its  predecessors.  With 
all  the  black  spots  on  his  fame,  there  are  few  more  brilliant  and  striking 
figures  in  English  history  than  the  soldier,  sailor,  courtier,  author,  and  ex- 

Florer,  Sir  Walter  Ralegh.     Even  at  this  distance  of  time,  more  than  two 
\mdred  and  fifty  years  after  his  head  fell  on  the  scaffold,  we  cannot  read  his 
story  without  emotion.    It  is  graphically  written,  and  is  pleasant  reading, 
not  only  for  young  folks,  but  for  old  folks  with  young  hearts."  —  Woman't 
Journal. 

DRAKE: 

THE    SEA-LION    OF    DEVON. 

Drake  was  the  foremost  sea-captain  of  his  age,  the  first  English  admiral 
to  send  a  ship  completely  round  the  world,  the  hero  of  the  magnificent 
victory  which  the  English  won  over  the  Invincible  Armada.  His  career  wa» 
stirring,  bold,  and  adventurous,  from  early  youth  to  old  age. 


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The  Friend  of  'Washington    A  Young-Folks'  Life  of  Lafayette 
The  Great  Peace-Maker    A  Young-Folks'  Life  of  Penn 
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